Alpine Sweetvetch
[Hedysarum Alpinum]
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms: Anorexia, emphysema, hemorrhages of lymph glands, lathyrism, muscle paralysis, starvation, stiffness of hindquarters, weakness.
Duration of Symptoms: Unknown
Rate of Poison: Unknown
Causes Death: Unknown, but a debated contributor to the death of Chris McCandless.
Treatment: Unknown
Ever heard of Christopher McCandless? In 1992, McCandless attempted to survive in the wilderness in Alaska, documenting his journey. However, after surviving in the wilderness for 113 days, he died in August, where his body was found in an abandoned buss. It is rumored that he had died due to ingestion of the seeds from the Alpine Sweetvetch. However, there actually has been no verification that this plant was the cause of his death, and was actually confirmed by coroners that he may have died of starvation. This debate had been going on for decades.
Photo: Jacob W. Frank - Wikimedia Commons
Main Toxin
Molecular structure of L-canavine (PubChem)
L-Canavanine
L-canavanine may cause apoptosis. It acts as an antimetabolite of arginine in mammals. L-canavanine causes a synthesis of abnormal proteins. L-canavanine is esterified by arginyl tRNA synthetase. The esterification interacts with tRNAArg. Canavanine impacts arginine involving the reuptake and catalytic reactions.
Level of Toxin: 1.2% w/w in seeds
Impacting Dosage: Unknown
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
L-Arginine
L-β-ODAP
Swanisonine
General Information
Parts of Plant: Seeds
Contact Hazard: Unknown
Animals Affected: Mammals
*Few studies on poisonings of alpine sweetvetch.
Medicinal Value
General Information
Parts of Plant: Unknown
Properties: Immunostimulatory
Components: L-Canavanine
Antidote: Unknown
Preparation: Extract, ointment
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Unknown
Location
Unknown
Claimed Treatments
Carcinoma: L-Canavanine used as a chemotherapeutic agent.
Diarrhea
Location
Unknown
Edibility
General Information
Parts of Plant: Roots, stems
Nutrients: Unknown
Taste: Unknown
WARNING: Similar to the Wild Sweet Pea, which is extremely poisonous.
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Roots: Alaskan natives consumed roots boiled, fried, raw, or roasted.
Stems: Alaskan natives consumed stems boiled, fried, raw, or roasted.
Preparation Methods
Beverage: Plant is fried in grease and soaking the plant in water.
Roots: Alaskan natives consumed roots boiled, fried, raw, or roasted.
Stems: Alaskan natives consumed stems boiled, fried, raw, or roasted.
General Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Alpine Sweetvetch by Mary Vaux Walcott
Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family)
Genus: Hedysarum
Other Names: Alaska Carrot, Alpine Hedysarum, Alpine Sweet-Broom, Eskimo Potato, Pink Hedysarum, Purple Sweetvetch, Wild Potato
Synonyms: Hedysarum alpinum var. alpinum, H. elongatum, H. sibiricum
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Bloom Colours: Purple, Pink
Bloom Time: June - August
Type: Perennial
Height: 1.5 - 3.25 feet
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Habitat: Grasslands, gravelly soil, lake, river, rocks, swamps, thickets,
Origin: Unknown
States: AK, ME, MA, MI, MT, NH, SD, VT, WY
Provinces: AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PW, QC, SK, YT
Related Species
Hedysarum Boreale
Photo: Patrick Alexander - Wikimedia Commons
Hedysarum Varium
Photo: Sönke Bonde - Wikimedia Commons
Other Species
Hedysarum Aculeolatum
Hedysarum Armenum
Hedysarum Branthii
Hedysarum Chinense
Hedysarum Flavescens
Hedysarum Leucanthum
Hedysarum Neglectum
Hedysarum Papillosum
Hedysarum Singarense
Hedysarum Turcicum
Hedysarum Acutifolium
Hedysarum Astragaloides
Hedysarum Cappadocicum
Hedysarum Cyprium
Hedysarum Flexuosum
Hedysarum Longigynophorum
Hedysarum Neyshaboricum
Hedysarum Polybotrys
Hedysarum Splendens
Hedysarum Americanum
Hedysarum Atropatanum
Hedysarum Carnosum
Hedysarum Daghestanicum
Hedysarum Fruticosum
Hedysarum Macedonicum
Hedysarum Orumiehense
Hedysarum Semenovii
Hedysarum Talassicum
Hedysarum Angrenicum
Hedysarum Biebersteinii
Hedysarum Chaiyrakanicum
Hedysarum Fallacinum
Hedysarum Humile
Hedysarum Macranthum
Hedysarum Pallens
Hedysarum Setigerum
Hedysarum Theinum
Family Connection
Sources
Toxicity Section
Bichell, R. E., (2015). 'Into the Wild' Author Tries Science To Solve Toxic Seed Mystery. NPR. From https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/05/01/403535274/into-the-wild-author-tries-science-to-solve-toxic-seed-mystery
Krakauer, J., Long, Y., Kolbert, A., Thanedar, S., & Southard, J. (2015). Presence of L-canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum seeds and its potential role in the death of Chris McCandless. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 26(1), 36-42. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1080603214002774?casa_token=vZFNd_WlC4kAAAAA:6B52vBE9nsS80GBFyfIXnidDG_JdGiW3As1B-EELflvIvn01m9gZZevFNHnU0cZ7fR3Gj-_lsIU
Petersen, L. (2020). Alpine Sweetvetch - Hedysarum Alpinum. From https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/alpine-sweetvetch-hedysarum-alpinum/
Rodgers, K. J., Samardzic, K., & Main, B. J. (2017). Toxic nonprotein amino acids. Plant Toxins. From https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/148820/2/Plant%20toxins%20Rodgers%202017.pdf
Rosenthal, G. A. (1977). The biological effects and mode of action of L-canavanine, a structural analogue of L-arginine. The quarterly review of biology, 52(2), 155-178. From https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/409853
Staszek, P., Weston, L. A., Ciacka, K., Krasuska, U., & Gniazdowska, A. (2017). L-Canavanine: How does a simple non-protein amino acid inhibit cellular function in a diverse living system?. Phytochemistry Reviews, 16(6), 1269-1282. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-017-9536-y
Medicinal Value Section
Deeg, K., Eichhorn, T., Alexie, G., Kretschmer, N., Andersch, K., Bauer, R., & Efferth, T. (2012). Growth inhibition of human acute lymphoblastic CCRF-CEM leukemia cells by medicinal plants of the West-Canadian Gwich’in Native Americans. Natural products and bioprospecting, 2(1), 35-40. From https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13659-012-0013-4.pdf
Krakauer, J., Long, Y., Kolbert, A., Thanedar, S., & Southard, J. (2015). Presence of L-canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum seeds and its potential role in the death of Chris McCandless. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 26(1), 36-42. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1080603214002774?casa_token=vZFNd_WlC4kAAAAA:6B52vBE9nsS80GBFyfIXnidDG_JdGiW3As1B-EELflvIvn01m9gZZevFNHnU0cZ7fR3Gj-_lsIU
Odintsova, E. B., Krasnyuk, I. I., Salova, V. G. E., Solovieva, N. L., & Kozlova, Z. M. (2019). Development of the optimal composition of the rectal ointment with Hedysarum alpinum dry extract. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 11(11), 3570-3572. From https://www.proquest.com/docview/2327863620?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true
Edibility Section
Krakauer, J., Long, Y., Kolbert, A., Thanedar, S., & Southard, J. (2015). Presence of L-canavanine in Hedysarum alpinum seeds and its potential role in the death of Chris McCandless. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 26(1), 36-42. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1080603214002774?casa_token=vZFNd_WlC4kAAAAA:6B52vBE9nsS80GBFyfIXnidDG_JdGiW3As1B-EELflvIvn01m9gZZevFNHnU0cZ7fR3Gj-_lsIU
Natural Herbs. (n.d.). Alpine Sweetvetch. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/h/hedysarum-alpinum=alpine-sweetvetch.php
Petersen, L. (2020). Alpine Sweetvetch - Hedysarum Alpinum. From https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/alpine-sweetvetch-hedysarum-alpinum/
USDA. (n.d.). Fire Effects Information System (FEIS): Hedysarum alpinum. From https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/hedalp/all.html
General Facts Section
Petersen, L. (2020). Alpine Sweetvetch - Hedysarum Alpinum. From https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/alpine-sweetvetch-hedysarum-alpinum/
Plants for a Future. (n.d.). Hedysarum alpinum - L. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hedysarum+alpinum
USDA. (n.d.). Fire Effects Information System (FEIS): Hedysarum alpinum. From https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/hedalp/all.html
Date of page creation: December 6, 2022
Updated page: March 8, 2023