EFSA Compendium of Botanicals

Draft - work in progress

Veratrum album L.

Family:: Melanthiaceae
Approval state:: Approved
Number of articles retrieved:: 438
Number of processed references:: 6

Compositions

#1: cevadine in seeds #2: veratridine in seeds #3: Veratrum (steroidal) alkaloids (Protoveratrines A & B, veratridine, cevadine, and jervine) in roots #4: cyclopamine, dihydroveratramine, droveratramine in roots

Endpoint Studies

#1: Mortality following ingestion of massive quantity of seeds in humans #2: nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea following the ingestion of roots extract in humans #3: bradycardia following the ingestion of roots extract in humans #4: nausea, vomiting and oral paraesthesia + cardiac toxicity in humans #5: Exposure to Veratrum album in children causes mild gastrointestinal and neurologic effects #6: neurological toxicity (dizziness, tingling, dimmed and jumping vision, transient blindness, and confusion) in humans. #7: cardiac toxicity (bradycardia and hypotension) in humans. #8: gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) in humans.

Genotoxicity

Composition #1: Gaillard, Y., Pepin, G. LC-EI-MS determination of veratridine and cevadine in two fatal cases of Veratrum album poisoning . journal of analytical toxicology, 2001, vol. 25, no. 6, p. 481–485. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Substance:

cevadine (RF-00004200-PAR)
Analytical method code:

LC-MS (F026A)
Analytical method - additional description:

LC-PDA analysis
Result unit:

Percent (G138A)
Result type:

Numerical Value (VAL)
Value (concentration, content):

0.023
Internal remarks:

cevadine in seeds

Composition #2: Gaillard, Y., Pepin, G. LC-EI-MS determination of veratridine and cevadine in two fatal cases of Veratrum album poisoning . journal of analytical toxicology, 2001, vol. 25, no. 6, p. 481–485. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Substance:

veratridine (RF-00003620-PAR)
Analytical method code:

LC-MS (F026A)
Analytical method - additional description:

LC-PDA analysis
Result unit:

Percent (G138A)
Result type:

Numerical Value (VAL)
Value (concentration, content):

0.126
Internal remarks:

veratridine in seeds

Composition #3: Grobosch, T., Binscheck, T., Martens, F., Lampe, D. Accidental Intoxication with Veratrum album. journal of analytical toxicology, 2008, vol. 32, no. 9, p. 768–773. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

methanol / water
Substance:

veratrum alkaloids (RF-00010813-PAR)
Additional substance description:

Protoveratrines A & B, veratridine, cevadine, and jervine
Analytical method code:

LC-MS-MS (QqQ) (F034A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Veratrum (steroidal) alkaloids (Protoveratrines A & B, veratridine, cevadine, and jervine) in roots

Composition #4: Wilson, Steven Ray., Strand, Martin Frank., Krapp, Andreas., Rise, Frode., Herstad, Gunnar., Malterud, Karl Egil., Krauss, Stefan. Hedgehog antagonists cyclopamine and dihydroveratramine can be mistaken for each other in Veratrum album . journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 2010, vol. 53, no. 3, p. 497–502. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.05.024. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

benzene
Substance:

cyclopamine (RF-00004245-PAR)
Additional substance description:

cyclopamine, dihydroveratramine, droveratramine
Analytical method code:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Liquid Chromatography (LC) (F018A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

cyclopamine, dihydroveratramine, droveratramine in roots

Endpoint study #1: Gaillard, Y., Pepin, G. LC-EI-MS determination of veratridine and cevadine in two fatal cases of Veratrum album poisoning . journal of analytical toxicology, 2001, vol. 25, no. 6, p. 481–485. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

2
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Effect description:

The absence of other toxic substance led to the assumption that this massive ingestion was the cause of death. Measured blood concentrations were 0.17 and 0.40 ng/mL for veratridine and 0.32 and 0.48 ng/mL for cevadine.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

Mortality following ingestion of massive quantity of seeds in humans

Endpoint study #2: Zagler, B., Zelger, A., Salvatore, C., Pechlaner, C., De Giorgi, F., Wiedermann, CJ. Dietary poisoning with Veratrum album - A report of two cases. wiener klinische wochenschrift, 2005, vol. 117, no. 3, p. 106–108. DOI: 10.1007/s00508-004-0291-x. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: DRINKING WATER (OECD2229PL)
Exposure duration:

6.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

2
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Digestive (TOX18A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

nausea and vomiting, preceded by headache, developed within one hour after ingestion, and followed by diarrhea in one of the patients
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea following the ingestion of roots extract in humans

Endpoint study #3: Zagler, B., Zelger, A., Salvatore, C., Pechlaner, C., De Giorgi, F., Wiedermann, CJ. Dietary poisoning with Veratrum album - A report of two cases. wiener klinische wochenschrift, 2005, vol. 117, no. 3, p. 106–108. DOI: 10.1007/s00508-004-0291-x. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: DRINKING WATER (OECD2229PL)
Exposure duration:

6.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

2
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

PULMONARY AND CARDIAC (TOX08A)
Target tissue:

cardiovascular / haematological: Heart (TT011A)
Effect description:

bradycardia
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

bradycardia following the ingestion of roots extract in humans

Endpoint study #4: Grobosch, T., Binscheck, T., Martens, F., Lampe, D. Accidental Intoxication with Veratrum album. journal of analytical toxicology, 2008, vol. 32, no. 9, p. 768–773. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Additional plant/substance description:

self-made alcoholic root beverage
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: DRINKING WATER (OECD2229PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Millilitre (G156A)
Effect concentration:

40
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Effect description:

Shortly after ingestion, he developed nausea, vomiting and oral paraesthesia. On admission to the hospital he suffered from severe bradycardia (35 beats/min) and hypotension (50/30 mm Hg).
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

nausea, vomiting and oral paraesthesia + cardiac toxicity in humans

Endpoint study #5: Rauber-Luethy, Christine., Halbsguth, Ulrike., Kupferschmidt, Hugo., Koenig, Naoko., Megevand, Chloe., Zihlmann, Karin., Ceschi, Alessandro. Low-dose exposure to Veratrum album in children causes mild effects - a case series . clinical toxicology, 2010, vol. 48, no. 3, p. 234–237. DOI: 10.3109/15563650903575243. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Roots and other underground parts (as part-nature) (A067M)
Additional plant/substance description:

also herbal tea
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

11
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Effect description:

Veratrum album intoxication in children demonstrated the same clinical course as observed in adults, with gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiovascular symptoms predominating.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

Exposure to Veratrum album in children causes mild gastrointestinal and neurologic effects

Endpoint study #6: Gilotta, Irene., Brvar, Miran. Accidental poisoning with Veratrum album mistaken for wild garlic (Allium ursinum) . clinical toxicology, 2010, vol. 48, no. 9, p. 949–952. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2010.533675. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Additional plant/substance description:

salad, soup
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

0.5
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

4
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

NEUROTOXICITY (TOX04A)
Target tissue:

Neurologic (TT004A)
Effect description:

Dizziness, tingling, dimmed and jumping vision, transient blindness, and confusion appeared
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

neurology (CHD027BE)
Internal remarks:

neurological toxicity (dizziness, tingling, dimmed and jumping vision, transient blindness, and confusion) in humans.

Endpoint study #7: Gilotta, Irene., Brvar, Miran. Accidental poisoning with Veratrum album mistaken for wild garlic (Allium ursinum) . clinical toxicology, 2010, vol. 48, no. 9, p. 949–952. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2010.533675. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Additional plant/substance description:

salad, soup
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

2.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

4
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

PULMONARY AND CARDIAC (TOX08A)
Target tissue:

Cardiovascular / Haematological (TT001A)
Effect description:

all patients had sinus bradycardia and hypotension
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

cardiac toxicity (bradycardia and hypotension) in humans.

Endpoint study #8: Gilotta, Irene., Brvar, Miran. Accidental poisoning with Veratrum album mistaken for wild garlic (Allium ursinum) . clinical toxicology, 2010, vol. 48, no. 9, p. 949–952. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2010.533675. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Additional plant/substance description:

salad, soup
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Limit test:

Not applicable
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

0.5
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

4
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Other toxicities (TOX19A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain developed within 30 mn from ingestion.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) in humans.