Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Ragwort
26.January, 2009
Ragwort contains compounds called Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids. In fact there are 8 different types. They are stored throughout the plant, in the sap. In fact, Ragwort isn’t the only plant to contain these pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It is believed that as many as 3% of the worlds flowering plants contain them. That’s about 6000 different species of plant to you and me. When stored in the plant, these compounds are non-toxic. However, when the plant is eaten, chemical processes in the intestines and liver change them into a highly toxic form, which is very damaging to the liver, and also to a lesser degree, to other organs such as the kidneys and lungs. The Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, also known as PAs do not accumulate in the system. In fact, they are processed and excreted in 24-48 hours. This is often the reason for blood tests showing no evidence of Ragwort Poisoning. By the time time symptoms are evident and the bloods taken, the poisons are often long gone.