Embedded Files
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Cough, dyspnoea, irritation, loss of consciousness, sleepiness, vomiting.
Duration of Symptoms: Not known
Rate of Poison: Not known
Causes Death: Not known (no cases of poisoning yet).
Treatment: Not known
There are not a ton of studies on Lizard's Tail, probably because it is mostly found growing in the wetlands, where it is less likely that people will come across this plant. There are hardly any cases of poisonings, but may occur if someone does encounter the plant. However, it has been used in the past for many medicinal uses.
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Main Toxin
Main Toxin
Molecular structure of Manassantin A (ChemDraw)
Manassantin A
Manassantin A
Manassantin A is part of the dineolignan class, a class of lignoids. Inhibits the mitochondrial complex I and impacts the bioenergetic activity. Mitochondrial is known as the "power house of the cell" and is responsible for producing ATP, which is involved with producing energy throughout the body. Issues with the mitochondrial complex I may result in developmental issues. HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) promotes cell survival. Manassantins target and inhibit HIF-1, resulting in cell death.
Level of Toxin: Not known
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Manassantin B
Manassantin B
Manassantin B is part of the dineolignan class, a class of lignoids. Inhibits the mitochondrial complex I and impacts the bioenergetic activity. Mitochondrial is known as the "power house of the cell" and is responsible for producing ATP, which is involved with producing energy throughout the body. Issues with the mitochondrial complex I may result in developmental issues. HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) promotes cell survival. Manassantins target and inhibit HIF-1, resulting in cell death.
Level of Toxin: Not known
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Molecular structure of Manassantin B (ChemDraw)
Other Toxins
Other Toxins
Saucerneol
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Foliage, leaves, shoots.
Contact Hazard: None known.
Animals Affected: Cattle, sheep
*Birds can consume the plant.
*Since not much poisoning has occurred with Lizard's Tail, there is not much on the toxicity of it.
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Whole plant
Properties: Anticancer, antirheumatic, sedative, stomachic.
Components: Threo-Austrobailignan-5, Threo-Austrobailignan-6, Manassantins, Saucernetin, Verrucosin.
Antidote: None
Preparation: Extract, poultice, wash
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Edema
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis
Hypertension
Inflammation of Breasts
Jaundice
Leucorrhea
Tumors
Urinary Tract Infection
Location
Location
Asia
North America
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Breast Cancer: Plant extract may attack carcinoma cells under in vitro conditions via hypoxic and normoxic states. Promotes cell death by targeting HIF-1.
Breast Pain: Root made into poultice, dried leaves made into a tea.
Flesh Wounds: Boiled extract from the roots.
Inflammations: Breast, kidney, bladder.
Rheumatism: Infusion of roots used as wash.
Stomach Ailments: Dried leaves made into a tea.
Location
Location
Unknown
Edibility
Edibility
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: None known
Nutrients: None known
Carbohydrates: None known
Minerals: None known
Proteins: None known
Vitamins: None known
Taste: Bitter
WARNING: Some sources say that Lizard's Tail has no edible nor nutritional value. Proceed with caution.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Tea
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
None known
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Lizard's Tail by Donovan S. Correll and Helen B. Correll - Wikimedia Commons.
License: Public Domain
Family: Saururaceae (Lizard's Tail Family)
Genus: Saururus
Other Names: American Swamp Lily, Breastweed, Lizard Tail, Water Dragon
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Bloom Colours: White
Bloom Time: March - September
Type: Perennial
Height: 1 - 4 ft
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Habitat: Ditches, lake edges, marshes, still water, streams, swamps, vernal pools, wet lowlands, woodlands.
Origin: North America
States: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Provinces: ON
Related Species
Related Species
Saururus chinensis
(Asian Lizard's Tail)
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz - Wikimedia Commons
License: CCSA 4.0
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
CarlRoth. (2021). Manassantin A ROTICHROM HPLC. Safety Data Sheet. From https://www.carlroth.com/medias/SDB-6497-MT-EN.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0c3wyMzQ2MjZ8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0cy9oNjEvaDUxLzkwNDExNTY1MzgzOTgucGRmfDg1MGM5YzBmYTdhNDBhMGViNjZkOTU5YWJkM2Y5ODdlY2QzMWFmNGI4YTk0MTFjODE1ODU5ZjJmYjljOTczNzc
Illinois Wildflowers. (n.d.). Lizard's Tail. From https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/lizard_tail.htm
Kwon, D. Y., Lee, H. E., Weitzel, D. H., Park, K., Lee, S. H., Lee, C. T., ... & Hong, J. (2015). Synthesis and biological evaluation of manassantin analogues for hypoxia-inducible factor 1α inhibition. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 58(19), 7659-7671. From https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01220
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2023). Saururus Cernuus. The University of Texas at Austin. From https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SACE
Ma, Y., Min, H. K., Oh, U., Hawkridge, A. M., Wang, W., Mohsin, A. A., ... & Fang, X. (2017). The lignan manassantin is a potent and specific inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and bioenergetic activity in mammals. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292(51), 20989-20997. From https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(20)32749-6/fulltext
PictureThis. (n.d.). Lizard's Tail. From https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Saururus_cernuus.html
Rao, K. V., & Alvarez, F. M. (1983). Manassantins A/B and saucerneol: novel biologically active lignoids from Saururus cernuus. Tetrahedron letters, 24(45), 4947-4950. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040403901998181
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Badisa, R. B., Badisa, V. L., Walker, E. H., & Latinwo, L. M. (2007). Potent cytotoxic activity of Saururus cernuus extract on human colon and breast carcinoma cultures under normoxic conditions. Anticancer research, 27(1A), 189-193. From https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/27/1A/189
Foraging Texas. (n.d.). Lizard's Tail. From https://www.foragingtexas.com/2005/09/lizards-tail.html
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2023). Saururus Cernuus. The University of Texas at Austin. From https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SACE
Liu, G., Zhao, Z., Shen, M., Zhao, X., Xie, J., He, X., & Li, C. (2020). A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of the Genus Saururus. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 48(1), 47–76. From https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X20500032
Natural Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). Swamp Lily. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/s/saururus-cernuus=swamp-lily.php
Toneto, N. P. A., de Brito, J. R., Sartorelli, P., Uemi, M., de Monroe Gonçalves, M., de Rubio, I. G. S., ... & Tamura, R. E. (2023). Cytotoxic effects of neolignans from Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae) against prostate cancer cells. Chemical Biology & Drug Design. From https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cbdd.14213?casa_token=xmvGIWolxyEAAAAA%3AvluMNNLUwYniraAPTubrJHk-U5A-uqQZfZ2onfjq85DetL3lCwMvEECGi1VReJ4bRq_iNdKr1zY4I38
Edibility Section
Edibility Section
Abney, CJ. (2023). Lizard's Tail (Saururus Cernuus). From https://bantam.earth/lizards-tail-saururus-cernuus/
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
Batcher, M. S. (2002). Saururus cernuus L. Lizard's Tail. New England Wild Flower Society.
Illinois Wildflowers. (n.d.). Lizard's Tail. From https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/lizard_tail.htm
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2023). Saururus Cernuus. The University of Texas at Austin. From https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SACE
Date of page creation: April 7, 2023
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