10 common plants that contain very dangerous toxins.

(Baonghean.vn) - Paulownia, oleander, azalea, and evergreen are common plants but contain toxins that can be harmful to you.

Cua Lo: Over 50 elementary school students poisoned after eating tung tree fruit.

54 students who were poisoned after eating tung tree seeds have been discharged from the hospital.

1. Seeds of the Paulownia tree

The Firmiana simplex tree, scientifically known as Firmiana simplex, belongs to the Sterculiaceae family. In Vietnam, this species is called forest bo tree or single-tram tree. Each Firmiana simplex tree can grow up to 7 meters tall. It usually grows wild in forests, especially tropical rainforests or on limestone soil. During the harvest season, people usually collect the seeds and leaves.

Although the trunk, leaves, and sap of the Paulownia tree are valuable medicinal ingredients, the fruit and seeds contain curcin, a highly toxic substance that can cause liver and digestive system diseases. If young children accidentally ingest Paulownia seeds, they may experience diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a burning sensation in the throat. In severe cases of poisoning, patients may suffer from central nervous system depression, cardiovascular disorders, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

2. Oleander

You might think this is a very attractive, flowering shrub, but don't be fooled! Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants commonly grown in gardens. Although oleander is particularly toxic to children, people still plant it in schoolyards because they are unaware of this.

Ingesting oleander can cause symptoms affecting both the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. Gastrointestinal symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which may or may not contain blood.

Cardiovascular symptoms include arrhythmias, sometimes characterized by an initial tachycardia followed by a slower-than-normal heart rate. The heart may beat irregularly and without a specific rhythm. More severe cases may lead to pale skin and coldness due to poor or unstable blood circulation. The effects of poisoning from this plant can also impact the central nervous system.

These symptoms may include lethargy, tremors in the limbs and muscles, hemorrhagic stroke, collapse, and even coma, and can lead to death. Oleander sap can cause skin irritation, swelling, severe eye irritation, and allergic reactions characteristic of dermatitis.

3. Lantana camara

Lantana, also known as five-colored flower, has the scientific name Lantana Camara L. Its fruit contains the toxic alkaloid lantanin or lantadene A, which causes burning sensations in the intestines, muscle relaxation, circulatory disorders, and can lead to death.

4. Datura plantmedicine

This plant has many names, including Belladonna, Devil's Berries, and Death Cherries. Both the leaves and the fruit are highly poisonous, and ingestion by children can be fatal.

A unique poisonous plant in the Western Hemisphere, its toxins cause delirium, hallucinations, dilated pupils, photosensitivity, rapid heartbeat, loss of balance, headache, rash, dry mouth and throat, slurred speech, constipation, and seizures. Without prompt medical attention, exposure to the plant's toxins can be fatal as the poison disrupts the functions of several bodily systems, including sweat glands, breathing, and heart rate.

5. The Heavenly Pine

This tree, belonging to the Oleander family, has lance-shaped leaves that grow alternately, and its trunk reaches a height of about 3 to 4 meters. It originates from the Americas. Currently, this species is widely planted along roadsides.

In Vietnam, the flowers of the thevetin tree are bright yellow, while in some other places they are orange-yellow, and usually have five petals. The fruit is rhomboid-shaped and green. This tree contains many toxins in its flowers, leaves, fruits, and seeds. The toxins include thevetin, neriin, and glucosides, which can be fatal to humans.

6. Ornamental cacti

Ornamental cacti, scientifically known as Euphorbia trigona, have sap that can cause skin and eye burns if ingested, and numbness of the tongue and mouth, as well as vomiting.

7. Rhubarb

Many people enjoy desserts made from the rhubarb plant, such as rhubarb pie, without knowing that eating raw rhubarb leaves can be fatal. Consuming large quantities of raw or even cooked rhubarb leaves can cause shortness of breath, mouth and throat sores, and if not treated within an hour, can lead to seizures, internal bleeding, coma, and ultimately death.

8. Poinsettia

Poinsettia is a distinctive plant with fiery red, pink, or white bracts at the top and small yellow flower clusters in the center. Poinsettias are often favored as indoor decorations during Christmas and New Year's because of their cheerful appearance and lucky name. However, poinsettia sap can irritate the skin and eyes, similar to other plants in the Euphorbiaceae family. Ingesting poinsettia leaves can cause diarrhea or vomiting.

9. Evergreen plant

An evergreen plant native to the tropical forests of North and South America and the West Indies, it is one of the most commonly used foliage plants. Easy to grow with many diverse species, it is used in interior and exterior decoration, but it is also one of the most poisonous plants in the world. Chewing any part of this plant causes intense pain in the mouth and throat, excessive salivation, and in some cases, swelling of the throat leading to suffocation.

10. Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are a popular ornamental flower. During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), Vietnamese families often plant a few pots of rhododendrons in their homes to wish for prosperity and abundance in the new year. However, the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of the rhododendron plant all contain toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. A child weighing 25kg will be poisoned if they eat 100-250g of rhododendron leaves.

Hoa Le

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