Chemicals in rhododendron leaves , flowers and nectar make the plant toxic . It can envenom many metal money , from humans to sawhorse , birds and insects that ingest it . For that reason , it ca n’t be controlled by grazing , as is often the case with other aggressive shrubs . Most cases of human poisoning come through eating honey made with rhododendron nectar , result in a condition sometimes known as mad dear disease or honey intoxication . The shrubs are sometimes known as " pig laurel " or " calfkill " because young fauna have not learned the toxicity of the plant and consume it in large quantity .

History

Cases of rhododendron poisoning among humans who have feed toxic honey engagement as far back as 400 B.C. This is the first pen score of " beloved intoxication , " in which 10,000 Greek soldiers were impact by use up dear made from rhododendron nectar . In rhododendron ponticum ’s original home , the Black Sea area of Turkey , cases of poisoning have been account since that century as well . outbreak among humans in the 1980s were confirmed in Turkey and Austria , as well as in goats in Britain . In 2008 , moderation workers in North Korea document poisoning among hungry children who would eat azalea flowers , which resulted in at least nine deaths .

Significance

The toxicity found in varieties of rhododendron is not uniform across all the plants ' species , although it is a characteristic of Rhododendron ponticum , one of the most pop varieties of the shrub . It is also vulgar to relatives of rhododendron , such as other members of the azalea , or Ericacae , family . Because of the chemical substance ' presence in nectar , placement of beehive near rhododendron is unwise , as the honey they make may rick out to be toxic in turn . As little as three milligrams of nectar consumed per kilogram of body weight can evidence disastrous . Leaves are less poisonous than nectar , as a range from 100 to 200 grams of leaves would be required to seriously envenom a nestling weigh 55 pounds .

Function

The toxicity come from free phenols and diterpenes , also known as grayanotoxins , in the plant tissues . The production of these is basically a defense mechanism by the industrial plant against being take by herbivores such as skimming animate being . The phenols are present in more concentrated amount in younger rhododendron tissue paper , before they toughen up . The muggy blackjack that comes from young rhododendron buds is full of these toxic compounds and can nettle skin and eyes . Many fauna poisonings happen in the former spring and tardy fall , since rhododendron remains green longer than other plant species , and presents a more attractive foraging draw .

Effects

Rhododendron toxicity is rarely fatal to humans , and symptoms usually last no more than 24 hours . It result in short - full term GI and cardiac problems , and the severity reckon on the amount of honey or nectar ingest . Symptoms include low-toned bloodline pressure , lower heart and soul rate and impact , nausea , increased salivation and vomiting , keep company by giddiness , loss of proportion and trouble ventilation . Serious sickness and expiry is more unwashed in animals who eat rhododendron , again depending on how much is eaten . Horses and elephant are two herbivore known to reply severely to rhododendron poisoning .

Treatment

Detoxification remedies are used to clean-cut rhododendron toxicity . These include regurgitation - hasten emetics when appropriate for the patient , and repeat use of activated wood coal on the first mean solar day symptoms are noted . Since the toxic condition dehydrates many patient , fluid substitution is recommend , and other supportive actions such as respiratory and cardiac support may be needed . Atropine can be prescribed to get the pulmonary muscles in case of a severely slowed heart pace .

References

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