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Hi Jean & All, Apr 26, 2007
It seems ironic that Daphne would have been removed from the Grand
Pre Park of all places. I can think offhand of seven Daphne locations
near Kentville and I have not noticed skeletons of man or beast near any
of them.
According to the 1976 Merck index, both Daphnin (the active
principle in Mezereum; dried bark of several Daphne species including D.
mezereum) and Warfarin are related to Coumarin but so is Umbelliferone.
The LD-50 of Coumarin in rats is 680 mg/kg but no toxicity is given
for either Daphnin or Warfarin (not even for rats !). Mezereum is
classed by Merck as a vesicant (blister producer). Coumarin is classed
as a Pharmaceutic aid (flavor); something to help the medicine go down.
Umbelliferone is common in many plants including Daphne and is used
in sunscreen lotions and creams. So being somewhat similar to Coumarin
need not mean as toxic as Warfarin or toxic in the same way.
I don't see anything to indicate that Daphnin or Mezereum has been
used as a blood thinner. My Blumgarten (1906 Materia Medica) refers to
external use as a liniment to produce redness and internally to treat
syphilis.
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville
Jean Timpa wrote:
> All parts of the Daphne (a laurel) are deadly, but the berries are the
>most tempting to consume, of course. Itwas brought over by the Acadians
>as a medicinal as its active ingredient is the same as that of Warfarin,
>needed in thinning blood -very carefully! but they knew how to do it-to
>prevent strokes, clots, etc.
> Grand Pre National Historic Site just down the road from us too
>removed all their Daphne from their gardens because of its very poisonous
>and libelous nature! I handled freshly emerged leaves on spring while
>trying to harvest a sample for the Acadia Herbarium, and my fingers went
>tingly where I had touched it for a few minutes. For a few minutes I
>wondered how much damage I had done. It wasn't that painful, but certainly
>worisome for a few minutes.
> Pretty, but that does not make it safe, and I'd say it is best not to
>have around except under professional survailance! JET
>
>
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