Embedded Files
White Snakeroot
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Abdominal discomfort, abnormal acidity of blood, anorexia, ataxia, bad breath, congestive heart failure, constipation, coma, delirium, difficulty breathing, difficulty chewing, difficulty swallowing, enlargement of liver, laboured respiration, listlessness, liver failure, loss of appetite, muscle stiffness, muscle tremors, nausea, pain, rapid and irregular heart rate, red/brown coloured urine, reddened tongue, restlessness, vomiting, weakness.
Duration of Symptoms: Months
Rate of Poison: Days - Weeks
Causes Death: Yes
Treatment: Activated charcoal via naso-gastric tube, supportive therapy.
White snakeroot is thought to be the plant responsible for killing Abraham Lincoln's mother. Cows often ingest in white snakeroot, which causes a disease called Mad Cow Disease. Those who often get sick from white snakeroot are usually ones who drink the milk from a cow infected with the poison from white shakeroot.
Photo: Cbaile19 - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Main Toxin
Main Toxin
Molecular structure of trematol (PubChem)
Trematol
Trematol
Trematol is a type of metabolilc poison consisting of a variety of ketones that inhibits liver enzymes. These liver enzymes are responsible for converting lactic acid to other compounds. The build up of lactic acid leads to trematol poisoning symptoms. This build up occurs in the blood, which causes the pH of the blood to decrease.
Level of Toxin: Not known
Impacting Dosage: Not known
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
2-senecioyl-4-(1-methoxyethyl)phenol
6-acetyl-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one
6-hydroxytremetone
Sterol II
2-senecoiyl-4-acetylphenol
6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene
Dehydrotremetone
Terpene I
6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene
6-acetyl-7-methoxy-2,2-di-methylchromene
Hydroxytremetone
Tremetone
6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene
6-acetyl-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene
Sterol I
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Leaves, stems
Contact Hazard: None known
Animals Affected: All animals, especially cows and other livestock.
Notes: Poison can transfer from livestock to humans upon consumption. Most commonly, when transferred from lactating cows and goats by drinking the milk they produce.
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Whole plant
Properties: Antibacterial, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, panacea, stimulant, tonic.
Components: Not known
Antidote: Snakebite
Preparation: Boiled, decoction, infusion, poultice, saline extract, smoked, tea.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Ague: Root tea
Diarrhea: Root tea
Gravel: Root tea
Revive Unconscious People: Smoked leaves.
Snakebite: Poultice from the root.
Urinary Disease: Root tea
Location
Location
Not known
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Diarrhea: Root tea
Fever: Root tea
Inflamed Womb: Root
Kidney Stones: Root tea
Sweat: Root encourages sweating.
Toothache: Root
Urinary Disease: Root
Location
Location
Not known
Edibility
Edibility
Parts of Plant: Root
Nutrients: None known
Taste: Not known
WARNING: !DO NOT CONSUME!
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Not known
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Tea: Made from the root.
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of White Snakeroot by USDA-NRCS PLANTS.
License: Public Domain
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ageratina
Other Names: Richweed, White Sanicle
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Bloom Colours: White
Bloom Time: July - October
Type: Perennial
Height: 1.5 - 5 feet
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Habitat: Wooded areas
Origin: Eastern and Central North America
States: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Provinces: NB, NS, ON, SK
Related Species
Related Species
Argentina rothrockii
(Rothrock's Snakeroot)
Photo: Patrick Alexander - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Ageratina shastensis
(Shasta Snakeroot)
Photo: Unknown - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Other Species
Other Species
Ageratina acevedoana
Ageratina apollinairei
Ageratina collodes
Ageratina cuencana
Ageratina jahnii
Ageratina mairetiana
Ageratina parayana
Ageratina ramireziorum
Ageratina rubricaulis
Ageratina wrightii
Ageratina amblyolepis
Ageratina arbutifolia
Ageratina concordiana
Ageratina dendroides
Ageratina jucunda
Ageratina mayajana
Ageratina paupercula
Ageratina resiniflua
Ageratina thyrsiflora
Ageratina ampla
Ageratina aristei
Ageratina cconspicua
Ageratina feuereri
Ageratina juxtlahuacensis
Ageratina mazatecana
Ageratina pichinchensis
Ageratina rhypodes
Ageratina triniona
Ageratina angustifolia
Ageratina blepharilepis
Ageratina contorta
Ageratina grandifolia
Ageratina lemmonii
Ageratina pacifica
Ageratina piurae
Ageratina rivalis
Ageratina viburnoides
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
Boddupalli, R. S. (2021). A review on most important poisonous plants and their medicinal properties. Journal of Medicinal Botany, 5, 1-13. From https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Raghava-Boddupalli/publication/358754117_A_review_on_most_important_poisonous_plants_and_their_medicinal_properties/links/623559ec5b303e5c5aa7b618/A-review-on-most-important-poisonous-plants-and-their-medicinal-properties.pdf
Bulger, Harold A., Francis M. Smith, and Arline Steinmeyer. "Milk Sickness and the Metabolic Disturbances in White Snakeroot Poisoning." Journal of the American Medical Association 91.25 (1928): 1964-1966. From https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/262412?casa_token=hL2UlQo9BRsAAAAA:XXX6zghXQysB5wR_-w0dYChkaxC6JDNtzwtJywm3vDC0WJn51toqN2dTpk8a3MEUDdNFU56y2UQ
CSU. (n.d.). Guide to Poisonous Plants. https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/128
Lee, S. T., Davis, T. Z., Gardner, D. R., Colegate, S. M., Cook, D., Green, B. T., ... & Evans, T. J. (2010). Tremetone and structurally related compounds in white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima): a plant associated with trembles and milk sickness. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(15), 8560-8565. From https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jf1012456?casa_token=d7N1OptE3HcAAAAA%3AlARcEYqZNVdksrXnN0OaeKXTIFosEoUh4J5Yd0FWIWrFtT-xeub46tATDfYAvf79vQ5FveZlnDzOTxAQ
Medicinal Plants of the Northeast. (n.d.). White Snakeroot. From http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/White_Snakeroot.html
Miller, L. (n.d.). Snakeroot Plant Care: Information About White Snakeroot Plants. Gardening Know How. From https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/snakeroot-plants/white-snakeroot-plants.htm
Natural Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). Herb: White Snakeroot. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/ageratina-altissima=white-snakeroot.php
National Park Service (2015). Read about the plant that killed Lincoln's mother.... From https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/milksickness.htm
Panter. K. E.,...Stegelmeier, B. L. (2018). Poisonous Plants of the United States. Veterinary Toxicology, 3.
Petruzello, M. (n.d.). 7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants. Encyclopedia Britannica. From https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-plants
Purdue. (2022). Final Diagnosis: White Snakeroot Intoxication in a Calf. From https://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2004/winter/finaldx.asp
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Abraham Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 213-215)
The Biology Project - Biochemistry. (n.d.). Metabolism Problem Set - Problem 3 Tutorial: Trematol. From http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/problem_sets/metabolism/03t.html
The Cargo Cult Café. (2015). White Snakeroot: Poison and Medicinal. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZSHuXmNFU
Wilson, C. (2012). White Snakeroot Toxicity. Purdue University. From https://www.addl.purdue.edu/Newsletters/2012/Spring/Snakeroot.aspx
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Antonio, C. N. S., Selene, M. D. M., Elnatan, B. D. S., & Raquel, O. D. S. F. (2017). The genus Eupatorium L.(Asteraceae): A review of their antimicrobial activity. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 11(3), 43-57. From https://academicjournals.org/journal/JMPR/article-full-text-pdf/4F30B6962396
Boddupalli, R. S. (2021). A review on most important poisonous plants and their medicinal properties. Journal of Medicinal Botany, 5, 1-13. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Raghava-Boddupalli/publication/358754117_A_review_on_most_important_poisonous_plants_and_their_medicinal_properties/links/623559ec5b303e5c5aa7b618/A-review-on-most-important-poisonous-plants-and-their-medicinal-properties.pdf
Medicinal Herb Info. (n.d.). Snakeroot. From http://medicinalherbinfo.org/000Herbs2016/1herbs/snakeroot/
Medicinal Plants of the Northeast. (n.d.). White Snakeroot. From http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/White_Snakeroot.html
Miller, L. (n.d.). Snakeroot Plant Care: Information About White Snakeroot Plants. Gardening Know How. From https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/snakeroot-plants/white-snakeroot-plants.htm
Natural Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). Herb: White Snakeroot. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/ageratina-altissima=white-snakeroot.php
The Cargo Cult Café. (2015). White Snakeroot: Poison and Medicinal. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZSHuXmNFU
Edibility Section
Edibility Section
Boddupalli, R. S. (2021). A review on most important poisonous plants and their medicinal properties. Journal of Medicinal Botany, 5, 1-13. From https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Raghava-Boddupalli/publication/358754117_A_review_on_most_important_poisonous_plants_and_their_medicinal_properties/links/623559ec5b303e5c5aa7b618/A-review-on-most-important-poisonous-plants-and-their-medicinal-properties.pdf
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
CSU. (n.d.). Guide to Poisonous Plants. https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/128
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2022). White Snakeroot. The University of Texas at Austin. From https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=agal5
Medicinal Plants of the Northeast. (n.d.). White Snakeroot. From http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/White_Snakeroot.html
Native Plant Trust. (n.d.) Ageratina altissima. From https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/plant/Ageratina-altissima
Natural Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). Herb: White Snakeroot. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/ageratina-altissima=white-snakeroot.php
Wikimedia. (n.d.) Ageratina altissima. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratina_altissima
Date of page creation: December 1, 2022
Updated page: March 21, 2022
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