Your plane has crashed and you are the only survivor. You make a recorder out of some nearby bamboo and play "Hot Cross Buns." It calms you for a moment, and then you go back to starving.
You come across this plant in a field of butterflies. Do you eat it? What do you think?
You come across this plant in a field of butterflies. Do you eat it? What do you think?
The answer is...do not eat! This is MILKWEED aka Asclepias syriaca. This plant contains cardiac steroids!😱😯
Cardiac steroids can cause GI sx, cardiac dysrhythmias, and death. Sometimes, they may even cause a positive digoxin concentration! (PMID: 23842908)
Cardiac steroids can cause GI sx, cardiac dysrhythmias, and death. Sometimes, they may even cause a positive digoxin concentration! (PMID: 23842908)
There are "guides" that detail "safe" ways to eat this plant (eat young shoots, place in cold water then boil, etc.) but honestly, I don't know how reliable those are & I really do not think it is worth the risk, ESPECIALLY if you are unfamiliar with plants. I don't trust it!🙅♀️
For those who said you u would eat the butterflies, that is very mean!
🦋
Those milkweed butterflies (aka MONARCH butterflies) are toxic. Caterpillars feed on milkweed and can accumulate the cardiac toxins in their bodies. They are not harmed b/c of their resistant Na/K ATPase!!
🦋
Those milkweed butterflies (aka MONARCH butterflies) are toxic. Caterpillars feed on milkweed and can accumulate the cardiac toxins in their bodies. They are not harmed b/c of their resistant Na/K ATPase!!
Treatment is similar to what I've said for other cardiac steroids: supportive care, GI decontamination, and even digoxin antibody fragments (if indicated)!
Toxicology is so cool!!! Thanks for tuning in yall. See u next time! :)
#ToxTweets 🌱☠️
Toxicology is so cool!!! Thanks for tuning in yall. See u next time! :)
#ToxTweets 🌱☠️
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