POISONOUS PARTS
Leaves and seeds.4
TOXICITY
-
Toxic Constituents
Phorbol esters and saponins; seeds may contain trace amount of hydrocyanic acid and toxalbumins.4–7
-
Toxic Dose
4 raw seeds can be toxic.4
-
Mechanism
Phorbol esters and saponins may irritate the gastrointestinal tract.4
-
Poisoning Features
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.4,5
-
Poisoning Events
Certain less toxic varieties of candlenut seeds are edible in small quantities after appropriate processing; a Hawaiian condiment known as "Inamona" is made from roasted seeds. Cases of candlenut poisoning due to ingestion of raw seeds have been reported to the Hawaii Poison Center.4,8
CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
Supportive treatment. Correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbances in patients with severe gastrointestinal symptoms.4,5
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
Evergreen trees, up to 18 m tall; bark deep-grey. Leaves alternate; petioles 6–12 cm long, biglandular at apex; leaf blades papery, 14–20 × 7–17 cm, entire or shallowly 1–5-lobed. Panicles corymbiform, 15–20 cm long; flowers white, petals 6–10 mm long. Drupes about 5 × 5–6 cm. Seeds testa hard and tuberculate-ribbed.9
MEDICINAL USES
Uses in TCM—seeds: activate blood, moisten the intestines; leaves: activate blood and promote menstruation, stanch bleeding. Recommended dose: seeds 3–6 g, leaves 15–30 g.2
LABORATORY ANALYSIS
Phorbol esters can be detected by LC-MS/MS.10
