:shock: LABURNUM :shock:
Just looked this up on Google , as I am going to turn some , and found this , Looks to be nasty :twisted: :twisted:
Every part of the tree is very poisonous and children should be warned of the danger.
"Laburnum trees should not be allowed to overhang a field used as a pasture, for when cattle and horses have browsed on the foliage and pods, the results have proved deadly.
Symptoms of poisoning by Laburnum root or seeds are intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma, slight frothing atthe mouth and unequally dilated pupils. In some cases, diarrhoea is very severe and at times the convulsions are markedly tetanic." (Grieves)
"The most significant human toxins in this group ( quinoline alkaloids) are in the laburnum tree and the mescal bean. The laburnum bears golden pealike pods. Mescal bean is the seed of a small tree and often is used in ornamental jewelry. Cytisine, the alkaloid common to these plants, has nicotinelike effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS)."
"Pathophysiology: Cytisine is similar in action to nicotine. In any isoquinoline or quinoline ingestion, GI irritation is common, and toxic ingestions almost invariably result in emesis. Onset of symptoms is rapid. GI upset and vomiting start 45 minutes to 4 hours after ingestion. CNS effects include drowsiness, weakness, loss of coordination, muscle fasciculations, seizures, coma, and mydriasis. Some anticholinergic effects, such as urinary retention, may manifest. Respiratory failure, as in nicotine poisoning, is observed in patients with severe cases. "
"The toxic alkaloids are concentrated in the pealike or brightly colored seeds in laburnum, mescal bean, and lupine. Danger to humans predominantly stems from these seeds' attractive appearance to children.
Most of the isoquinolines are noxious in smell and taste and discourage ingestion, thus human toxicity is rare. Interestingly, some domestic species tolerate ingestion of isoquinoline and other alkaloids, and humans can ingest toxic alkaloids from the milk of a poisoned animal and manifest symptoms."
(The above 3 quotes are from E-medicine, a USA medical website on www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic433.htm)
Luckily mortality in humans is very rare, hence this report in the Lancet in 1979: "In an average summer over three thousand children are admitted to hospital in England and Wales because of laburnum poisoning. It is suggested that laburnum is not as dangerous as has been thought and that many of these admissions are unnecessary."
(Lancet. 1979 May 19;1(8125):1073)
Nevertheless anyone who has eaten Laburnum seeds should be taken immediately to an emergency department, where activated charcoal may be administered to soak up the poison and other drugs and treatment may be administered as required for possible seizures or respiratory failure.
Remember that as little as two seeds can suffice to poison a child and the tree should therefore never be planted near children's playgrounds.
So , be carfull out there :wink:
Just looked this up on Google , as I am going to turn some , and found this , Looks to be nasty :twisted: :twisted:
Every part of the tree is very poisonous and children should be warned of the danger.
"Laburnum trees should not be allowed to overhang a field used as a pasture, for when cattle and horses have browsed on the foliage and pods, the results have proved deadly.
Symptoms of poisoning by Laburnum root or seeds are intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma, slight frothing atthe mouth and unequally dilated pupils. In some cases, diarrhoea is very severe and at times the convulsions are markedly tetanic." (Grieves)
"The most significant human toxins in this group ( quinoline alkaloids) are in the laburnum tree and the mescal bean. The laburnum bears golden pealike pods. Mescal bean is the seed of a small tree and often is used in ornamental jewelry. Cytisine, the alkaloid common to these plants, has nicotinelike effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS)."
"Pathophysiology: Cytisine is similar in action to nicotine. In any isoquinoline or quinoline ingestion, GI irritation is common, and toxic ingestions almost invariably result in emesis. Onset of symptoms is rapid. GI upset and vomiting start 45 minutes to 4 hours after ingestion. CNS effects include drowsiness, weakness, loss of coordination, muscle fasciculations, seizures, coma, and mydriasis. Some anticholinergic effects, such as urinary retention, may manifest. Respiratory failure, as in nicotine poisoning, is observed in patients with severe cases. "
"The toxic alkaloids are concentrated in the pealike or brightly colored seeds in laburnum, mescal bean, and lupine. Danger to humans predominantly stems from these seeds' attractive appearance to children.
Most of the isoquinolines are noxious in smell and taste and discourage ingestion, thus human toxicity is rare. Interestingly, some domestic species tolerate ingestion of isoquinoline and other alkaloids, and humans can ingest toxic alkaloids from the milk of a poisoned animal and manifest symptoms."
(The above 3 quotes are from E-medicine, a USA medical website on www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic433.htm)
Luckily mortality in humans is very rare, hence this report in the Lancet in 1979: "In an average summer over three thousand children are admitted to hospital in England and Wales because of laburnum poisoning. It is suggested that laburnum is not as dangerous as has been thought and that many of these admissions are unnecessary."
(Lancet. 1979 May 19;1(8125):1073)
Nevertheless anyone who has eaten Laburnum seeds should be taken immediately to an emergency department, where activated charcoal may be administered to soak up the poison and other drugs and treatment may be administered as required for possible seizures or respiratory failure.
Remember that as little as two seeds can suffice to poison a child and the tree should therefore never be planted near children's playgrounds.
So , be carfull out there :wink:
