Veratrum

Veratrum
Veratrum album[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Melanthiaceae
Genus:	Veratrum L.
Synonyms[2]
Melanthium J.Clayton ex L. Helleborus Gueldenst. 1791, illegitimate homonym not L. 1753 (Ranunculaceae) Leimanthium Willd. Anepsa Raf. Evonyxis Raf. Acelidanthus Trautv. & C.A.Mey.

Veratrum nigrum flowers, Poland

Veratrum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melanthiaceae, native, described by Linnaeus in 1753.^[3][4] to damp habitats across much of temperate and subarctic Europe, Asia, and North America.^{[2][5][6][7][8]}

They are vigorous herbaceous perennials with highly poisonous black rhizomes, and panicles of white or brown flowers on erect stems.^[9] In English they are known as the false hellebores or corn lilies. However, they are not closely related to lilies or hellebores, nor do they resemble them.

Ecology

Veratrum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Habitat

Veratrum stamineum in a montane habitat

Widely distributed in montane habitats of temperate Northern Hemisphere, Veratrum species prefer full sunlight and deep, wet soils, and are common in wet mountain meadows, swamps, and near streambanks.

Toxicity

Veratrum album subsp. oxysepalum, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Veratrum species contain highly toxic steroidal alkaloids (e.g. veratridine) that activate sodium ion channels and cause rapid cardiac failure and death if ingested.^[10] All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the root and rhizomes being the most poisonous.^[10] Symptoms typically occur between 30 minutes and 4 hours after ingestion and include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, numbness, headache, sweating, muscle weakness, bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, and seizures.^[10] Treatment for poisoning includes gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal followed by supportive care including antiemetics for persistent nausea and vomiting, along with atropine for treatment of bradycardia and fluid replacement and vasopressors for the treatment of hypotension.^[10]

The toxins are only produced during active growth. In the winter months, the plant degrades and metabolizes most of its toxic alkaloids. Native Americans harvested the roots for medicinal purposes during this dormant period.

Medical research

During the 1930s Veratrum extracts were investigated in the treatment of high blood pressure in humans. Patients treated often suffered side effects due to the narrow therapeutic index of these products. Due to their toxicity and the availability of other less toxic drugs, use of Veratrum as a treatment for high blood pressure in humans was discontinued.^[10]

Uses

Veratrum viride shoot emerging, Quebec, Canada

Native Americans used the juice pressed from the roots of this plant to poison arrows before combat. The dried powdered root of this plant was also used as an insecticide.^[11] Western American Indian tribes have a long history of using this plant medicinally, and combined minute amounts of the winter-harvested root of this plant with Salvia dorii to potentiate its effects and reduce the toxicity of the herb. The plants' teratogenic properties and ability to induce severe birth defects were well known to Native Americans.^[11]

Herbal medicine

Members of Veratrum are known both in western herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine as toxic herbs to be used with great caution. It is one of the medicinals ("Li lu") cited in Chinese herbal texts as incompatible with many other common herbs because of its potentiating effects. Especially, many root (and root-shaped) herbs, particularly ginseng, san qi, and hai seng, will create and or exacerbate a toxic effect.^[12]

The roots of V. nigrum and V. schindleri have been used in Chinese herbalism (where plants of this genus are known as "li lu" (藜蘆). Li lu is used internally as a powerful emetic of last resort, and topically to kill external parasites, treat tinea and scabies, and stop itching.^[12] Some herbalists refuse to prescribe li lu internally, citing the extreme difficulty in preparing a safe and effective dosage, and that death has occurred at a dosage of 0.6 grams.^[12]

Species

accepted species^[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Veratrum.

References

External links

• USDA Plants Profile
• Jepson manual treatment