Embedded Files
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Confusion, convulsions, dizziness, dry mouth, facial flushing, fever, hypertension, irritability, laboured breathing, lethargy, nausea, palpitation, respiratory problems, seizures, staggering, tachycardia, trembling, urinary retention, vomiting.
Duration of Symptoms: Hours - 2 Days
Rate of Poison: 30 minutes
Causes Death: No
Treatment: Benzodiazepine, haloperidol
Bleeding hearts are named based on the shape of their flower, portraying a heart that looks like it is bleeding. It is not known to cause death, mostly because it is unusual to consume a plant, especially since it is known for its decorative purposes. However, for those who do consume this plant, there have been some detrimental side effects.
Photograph: N. L. Viau
Main Toxin
Main Toxin
Molecular structure of protopine (ChemDraw)
Protopine
Protopine
Protopine is an antagonist to acetylcholine, meaning that it causes acetylcholine activity to cease. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, meaning that protopine can reach the brain rapidly and is also readily distributed to other tissues in the body. This could result in the development of anticholinergic syndrome.
Level of Toxin: 5.4 mg/g of plant material
Impacting Dosage: 313.10 mg/kg
Other Toxins and Chemicals
Other Toxins and Chemicals
Aquilegiolide
Aquilegiolide
A butenolide and lactone that can cause cell death in human tumour cell lines.
Level of Toxin: Not known
Impacting Dosage: 10 μM
Menisdaurilide
Menisdaurilide
A butenolide and lactone that can cause cell death in human tumour cell lines.
Level of Toxin: Not known
Impacting Dosage: 10 μM
3-O-Feruloylquinicacid
Bicuculline
Cherirubine
Cryptopine
Isoboldine
Lederine
Protopine
Scoulerine
4-O-Feruloylquiniacid
Cheilanthifoline
Chlorogenic Acid
Dicentrine
Isocorydine
Menisdaurin
Reticuline
Trans-N-p-Coumaroyltryamine
Allocryptopine
Chelerythirine
Coptisine
Dihydrosanguinarine
Kaempferol 3,7-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside
Nictiflorin
Sanguinarine
Trans-N-p-Feruloyltyramine
Astragalin
Chelilutine
Corydine
Ferulic Acid
Kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosid
Predicentrine
Sanquinarine
α-rhamnoisorobi
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: All parts, especially the roots
Contact Hazard: Yes, may cause skin irritation.
Animals Affected: Cattle, dogs, horses
Notes: None
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Root
Properties: Anticancer, anti-inflammatory
Components: Secondary metabolites, Trans-N-p-coumaroyltyramine
Antidote: None
Preparation: Tea
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Abdominal Pain: Herbal tea
Bee Stings: Herbal tea
Blood Circulation: Roots
Bruises: Roots
Diarrhea: Herbal tea
Strokes: Roots
Location
Location
North America: Native Americans made a tea from the plants to treat abdominal pain, bee stings, and diarrhea.
Korea: Roots of bleeding hearts used to improve blood circulation and treat bruises and strokes.
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Aches: Pacific bleeding heart variety added to a hot compress.
Anxiety: Roots
Asthma: Root placed in a jar filled with alcohol, let sit for six weeks.
Blood Stasis
Pains: Pacific bleeding heart variety added to a hot compress.
Location
Location
Asia: Plant used for removing blood stasis.
India: Used the roots of bleeding hearts to treat asthma.
Edibility
Edibility
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Flowers, leaves, stems
Nutrients:
Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Potassium
Vitamins: Vitamin C
Taste: Mildly sweet
WARNING: Insufficient data. Highly recommend not consuming plant.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
None known.
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Cake: Plant candied and decorated on cakes.
Cookies: Plant candied and decorated on cookies.
Entire Plant: Boiled, sautéed, steamed.
Omelet: Plant added.
Soups: Plant added.
Stews: Plant added.
Stir fry: Plant added.
Young Leaves: Cooked
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Bleeding Heart by Kawahara Keiga
Family: Fumariaceae/Papaveraceae
Genus: Dicentra
Other Names: Asian Bleeding Heart, apanese Bleeding Heart, Lady's Locket, Locks and Keys, Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart, Showy Bleeding Heart
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Bloom Colours: Red, pink, white
Bloom Time: April - June
Type: Perennial
Height: 2 - 3 feet
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Habitat: Residential areas, shaded areas, woods
Origin: Asia
States: FL, IN, VA, WI
Provinces: ON
Related Species
Related Species
Dicentra canadensis
(Squirrel Corn)
Photo: Halpaugh - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's Breeches)
Photo: Cbaile19 - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Dicentra eximia
(Wild Bleeding Heart)
Photo: Halpaugh - Wikimeida Commons
License: Public Domain
Dicentra formosa
(Pacific Bleeding Heart)
Photo: Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Dicentra nevadensis
(Sierra Bleeding Heart)
Photo: Graham Montgomery - Wikimedia Commons
License: CCSA 4.0
Dicentra peregrina
(Wanderer's Bleeding Heart)
Photo: Akiyoshi's Room - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Dicentra uniflora
(Steers-Head)
Photo: Wallace Keck - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Family Connection
Family Connection
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
Jeong, T. O., Lee, J. B., Jin, Y. H., & Yoon, J. C. (2015). Anticholinergic syndrome following ingestion of Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Bleeding Heart). Clinical Toxicology, 53(8), 842-843. From https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/15563650.2015.1066506
Kim, A. H., Jang, J. H., Woo, K. W., Park, J. E., Lee, K. H., Jung, H. K., ... & Cho, H. W. (2018). Chemical constituents of Dicentra spectabilis and their anti-inflammation effect. J. Appl. Biol. Chem, 61, 39-46. From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/36a8/92edeec642c1aa1786e0d577a40ea4360aec.pdf
Hu, W., Yang, F., Liu, W., Guo, L., Ai, L., Zhang, X., ... & Gao, C. (2021). Potential Toxicity Evaluation of Protopine in Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br.—A Bioactivity Guided Approach. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 752767. From https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.752767/full
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 50-52)
McNulty, J., Poloczek, J., Larichev, V., Werstiuk, N. H., Griffin, C., & Pandey, S. (2007). Discovery of the apoptosis-inducing activity and high accumulation of the butenolides, menisdaurilide and aquilegiolide, in Dicentra spectabilis. Planta medica, 73(15), 1543-1547. From https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2007-990264
NC State Extension. (n.d.). Lamprocapnos spectabilis. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lamprocapnos-spectabilis/
Petruczynik, A., Plech, T., Tuzimski, T., Misiurek, J., Kaproń, B., Misiurek, D., ... & Waksmundzka-Hajnos, M. (2019). Determination of selected isoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia aquifolia; Meconopsis cambrica; Corydalis lutea; Dicentra spectabilis; Fumaria officinalis; Macleaya cordata extracts by HPLC-DAD and comparison of their cytotoxic activity. Toxins, 11(10), 575. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6832497/
Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife. (1998). Wildflowers: Guides to Recognizing Just About Everything in Nature. Reader’s Digest Association. (pp. 52-53)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 125)
Wag!. (n.d.). Bleeding Heart Poisoning in Horses. From https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/bleeding-heart-poisoning
Wikipedia. (2023). Lamprocapnos. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Editor1. (2008). Dicentra ssp: Remembering a Forgotten Medicine. Naturopathic Doctor News & Review. From https://ndnr.com/botanical-medicine/dicentra-spp-remembering-a-forgotten-medicine/
Kim, A. H., Jang, J. H., Woo, K. W., Park, J. E., Lee, K. H., Jung, H. K., ... & Cho, H. W. (2018). Chemical constituents of Dicentra spectabilis and their anti-inflammation effect. J. Appl. Biol. Chem, 61, 39-46. From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/36a8/92edeec642c1aa1786e0d577a40ea4360aec.pdf
Kulus, D. (2020). Influence of growth regulators on the development, quality, and physiological state of in vitro-propagated Lamprocapnos spectabilis (L.) Fukuhara. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, 56(4), 447-457. From https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11627-020-10064-1
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 50-52)
Petruczynik, A., Plech, T., Tuzimski, T., Misiurek, J., Kaproń, B., Misiurek, D., ... & Waksmundzka-Hajnos, M. (2019). Determination of selected isoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia aquifolia; Meconopsis cambrica; Corydalis lutea; Dicentra spectabilis; Fumaria officinalis; Macleaya cordata extracts by HPLC-DAD and comparison of their cytotoxic activity. Toxins, 11(10), 575. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6832497/
Edibility Section [Insufficient Data]
Edibility Section [Insufficient Data]
Mueller, M. (2023). Are Bleeding Hearts A Delicious Delicacy Or A Ticking Time Bomb?. Shuncy. From https://shuncy.com/article/are-bleeding-hearts-edible
Plants For A Future. (n.d.). Dicentra spectabilis - (L.)Lem. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dicentra+spectabilis
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
Kamińska, M., Śliwa, H., & Rudzińska-Langwald, A. (2004). First report of shoot proliferation of bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) in Poland, associated with phytoplasma infection. Plant pathology, 53(6). From: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20043212877
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 50-52)
NC State Extension. (n.d.). Lamprocapnos spectabilis. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lamprocapnos-spectabilis/
Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife. (1998). Wildflowers: Guides to Recognizing Just About Everything in Nature. Reader’s Digest Association. (pp. 52-53)
Date of page creation: May 30, 2023
Updated page: May 20, 2024
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