Moonseed-Menispermum canadense L.-Poisonous plant

Moonseed

General poisoning notes:

Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) is a native vine found in south-central Canada. In Pennsylvania the fruits of this plant have apparently killed children (Gress 1935, Lampe and McCann 1985).

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Menispermum canadense L.

Vernacular name(s): moonseed

Scientific family name: Menisperamaceae

Vernacular family name: moonseed

Geographic Information

Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec.

Toxic parts:

mature fruit

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Moonseed contains alkaloids that may be responsible for the toxicity of the fruit to humans (Lampe and McCann 1985). Acutamine, an alkaloid, has been found in the aboveground part of moonseed, but has not been proved to cause the toxicity. Other alkaloids have also been found in the rhizomes (Doskotch and Knapp 1971).

Toxic plant chemicals:

acutumine

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:

Convulsions, death.

Notes on poisoning:

Gress (1935) describes a case where children ingested moonseed berries and later died. Lampe and McCann (1985) state that convulsions may result when the berries are ingested.