Is <i>Hedysarum mackenzei</i> (Wild Sweet Pea) Actually Toxic?

Authors

  • Edward M Treadwell Eastern Illinois University
  • Thomas Paul Clausen University of Alaska Fairbanks

Keywords:

Hedysarum mackenzei, wild sweet pea, toxicity, Into the Wild

Abstract

Hedysarum mackenzii (wild sweet pea, bear root) is widely regarded as toxic and warnings about confusing it with its edible cousin H. alpinum (Eskimo potato) abound. To find the chemical basis for this claim, we performed an exhaustive comparison of the secondary chemistry between the two plants as well as a search for nitrogen containing metabolites (alkaloids) in both species. No chemical basis for toxicity could be found. These results were consistent with a subsequent cytotoxic assay performed on an extract of H. mackenzii. Finally, a critical examination of the literature could find no credible evidence that H. mackenzii is toxic in spite of these widespread rumors.

Author Biographies

Edward M Treadwell, Eastern Illinois University

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Thomas Paul Clausen, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Professor of Chemistry

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Published

2008-09-01

How to Cite

Treadwell, E. M., & Clausen, T. P. (2008). Is &lt;i&gt;Hedysarum mackenzei&lt;/i&gt; (Wild Sweet Pea) Actually Toxic?. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 6, 319–321. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/180

Issue

Vol. 6 (2008)

Section

Research

License

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