Toxicity of Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangea

Scientific noun:Hydrangea macrophylla Ser.

Family : Saxifragaceae

Habitat: Species cultivated for gardening, native from Japan

Active components: Hydrangin and saponin

Active parts: The whole plant

Uses :

Gardening: As a garden plant. ( More information )

As a medicinal plant, decoctions of its dried leaves have been used to treat intestinal disorders, such as gastric ulcer, reflux al ulcerous colitis.

Because of its toxicity, it is not advisable to take homemade medicinal products.

Toxicity: High. Hydrangin is a cyanogenetic glycoside, that produces intoxications with similar symptoms to those of of the cyanide. Another glycoside that produces hydrocyanic acid in contact with certain enzymes is amygdaline which appears in the seeds of many plants belonging to the rose family, such as the plum tree ( Prunus domestica); the cherry tree( Prunus avium ); the apricot (Prunus armeniaca ); the peach tree( Prunus persica); or the almond tree ( Prunus dulcis).

Symptoms: In minor doses diarrhea, vomiting , stomachache. In major doses, which is quite unlikely being a bad tasting plant, asphyxia, bad breath, increase of heartbeat, respiratory failure and death. Similar symptoms have appeared in horses and cows that have eaten its tender buds.