POISONOUS PARTS
Leaves and fruits.3
TOXICITY
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Toxic Constituents
Falcarinol, didehydrofalcarinol, α-hederin and β-hederin.4,5
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Mechanism
Falcarinol, didehydrofalcarinol, α-hederin and β-hederin are irritants to skin and mucosal surface. Falcarinol and didehydrofalcarinol can cause allergic contact dermatitis.5
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Poisoning Features
Skin contact: irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis. Ingestion: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain.3,4,6,7
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Poisoning Events
Multiple cases of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis after exposure to H. helix have been reported in different European countries. Most cases were described while pruning the plant, or in children who climbed trees covered with H. helix.4–7
CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
Supportive treatment. For allergic contact dermatitis, patients should avoid further contact with H. helix; the use of topical and oral corticosteroids could be considered.5
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
Evergreen scandent shrubs, climbing or creeping, up to 30 m or longer; apex of young branches with greyish white stellate hairs. Leaves on sterile branches 7–15 cm in diameter, palmately 3–5-lobed, veins often light colored; leaves on flowering branches 6–10 × 2–12 cm, entire. Umbels globose, usually several forming a raceme. Petals 5, yellowish white, 3–5 mm long. Fruits about 6 mm in diameter, black.8
LABORATORY ANALYSIS
α-Hederin can be detected by LC-MS/MS.9
