What Toxicity May Result from Ingestion of the Plant Pictured Below? Answer: Cardioactive Steroid Toxicity from Common Milkweed

摘要

Ingestion of plants containing cardioactive steroids has resulted in detectable digoxin concentrations, toxicity, and even death [1, 2]. The common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a plant known to contain cardioactive steroids, specifically asclepiadin, gomphoside, and afroside [3, 4] (Figs. 1 and 2). Milkweed commonly grows throughout the Midwestern and Eastern United States as well as Eastern Canada [4]. A review of the literature reveals scant human experience with ingestion of this commonly encountered plant. We present the case of a man who had an elevated serum digoxin concentration after eating fried milkweed.