American mistletoe-Phoradendron flavescens (Pursh) Nutt.-Poisonous plant

American mistletoe

General poisoning notes:

American mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens) is the familiar mistletoe of Christmas. Ingesting a large number of the berries or tea made from the berries has led to poisoning and death in humans. Mistletoe, used as decorations at Christmas, should be kept out of the reach of children and family pets (Kingsbury 1964, Fuller and McClintock 1986).

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Phoradendron flavescens (Pursh) Nutt.

Vernacular name(s): American mistletoe

Scientific family name: Loranthaceae

Vernacular family name: mistletoe.

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Toxic parts:

All parts, leaves, mature fruit.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

American mistletoe contains two amines, beta-phenylethylamine and tyramine, as well as a lectin, phoratoxin. These chemicals are probably responsible for toxic reactions after ingestion (Fuller and McClintock 1986).

Toxic plant chemicals:

beta-phenylethylamine, phoratoxin, tryamine

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

cardiac arrest, death, gastroenteritisNotes on poisoning:

Ingesting a few berries causes abdominal pain and diarrhea. Tea made from the berries caused death about 10 h after symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, followed by cardiovascular collapse. Plant material has slowed the heartbeat in a way similar to digitalis (Kingsbury 1964, Fuller and McClintock 1986).