Poke Salet:
“the Myth, the Menace, the Miracle”
Justin Duncan
Yan Ren
Jin Hee
Haejin Bae
Justin Butcher
Phytolacca americana
 Largest
member of the Phytolaccaceae in
North America.
 Phytolaccaceae is found within the
Caryophyllidae, which also includes the
cacti, Chenopodiums, amaranths, Portulacas
and Polygonums.
 Most of these families lack anthocyanins,
which are replaced by betalains.
Phytolacca americana
 Tall,
many branched perennial herb arising
from large rootstock.
 This
 The
large root is said to have a man-shape.
berries are very dark purple-black and
can be used to make ink.
Distribution of P. americana
Where can I find some?
 Poke
grows in:
damp woods
waste places
roadsides
many back yards
Food Uses
 Poke
salet greens (potherb)
– Fried with eggs and diced onions
– Fried breaded young stems
 Poke
berry pie
 Poke
berry wine
Other uses
 Fabric
dye
 Dietary
supplement?
 Herbicide
 Molluscide
“The Myth”
 Poke
salet is a magical plant that purges evil
spirits from the human body.
 Especially
 Berries
good for tumors of the breast.
eaten by arthritis sufferers for relief.
“The Myth”
Traditional healers (Jethro Kloss, John Lee) used
poke for:

thyroid problems
 chest pain
 fungal skin
infections
 eczema
 impetigo
 ulcers
 stomach cancer

cysts
 alterative
 Cathartic
 constipation
 anti-syphilitic
 antiscorbutic
 tonic.
Disadvantages and Negative
Aspects of Pokeweed
“The Menace”
Disadvantages and Negative Aspects of
Pokeweed

Characterization as a weed.

Possibly possesses
allelochemical properties.
– Interferes with competing
species by releasing phenolic
compounds present in leaf
extracts causing inhibition of
growth and other changes in
root-tip cells (Kim et al., 2005).
Toxicity

All parts are mildly poisonous when
consumed.
– Root (most toxic: contains saponins,
mitogenic acting glycoproteins, etc.)
– Leaves and stems (moderate)
– Berries (smallest quantity of poison)
– Seeds (very toxic but hard seed coat)

Thorough cooking reduces toxicity levels.
– Boiling twice and discarding water has proven to be effective.

Should be avoided if taking anti-depressants, fertility
drugs, and women who are pregnant.
American Cancer Society, 2007
Effects of Consuming Uncooked Pokeweed











Burning / bitter taste
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Headaches
Blurred vision
Confusion
Dizziness
Weakness
Convulsions

Rapid heart rate
 Muscle spasms
 Paralysis of respiratory
organs
 Even death
American Cancer Society, 2007
Clinical Signs in Animals
 Horses

Colic
 Diarrhea
 Respiratory failure
 Swine

Unsteadiness
 Inability to rise
 Jerking movements
in legs.
 Cattle

General symptoms
 Decrease in milk
production
Wikipedia, 2007
Dangerous Compounds in Pokeweed

Alkaloid (phytolaccine)

Resin (phytolaccatoxin)

Saponin (phytolaccigenin)
– Phytolaccoside E (main one) strong irritant.

Lectin
– Cause red blood cells to
clump together and may
stimulate abnormal cell
division in B and Tlymphocytes (Armstrong,
2000).
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2007
Reported Cases

Eastern North America during the 19th century
– Poisonings were common; mistaken for parsnip or Jerusalem
artichoke.

Rhode Island in 1961.
– Child (2 years of age) died from what was initially perceived
as result of ingesting pokeweed berries.
– Physicians recommended “the plant should be handled with
caution” (Kingsbury, 1980).

Practice of brewing pokeweed with hot water to make
tea -> poisoning (American Cancer Society, 2007).
Reported Cases Continued

Barker et al. (1966) studied serial blood films of
children.
– Large cells similar to plasmablasts were found in blood
films two weeks following exposure.
A mitotic mononuclear cell in blood of a child
who ingested several pokeberries 10 days prior
to examination.
A cell from blood of a child exposed to
pokeberry showing non-specific
morphologic changes.
Reported Cases Continued

Lazarus et al. (1998) found a decline in serum
glucose levels in mice 24 hours after receiving 15
mg/kg of pokeweed mitogen (PKW).
– Development of anorexia.
– Significant decline in body
weight after three days.
– 10% reduction in carcass
weights.
Advantages and Positive Aspects of
Pokeweed
“The Miracle”
Advantages and Positive Aspects of
Pokeweed

Used as a homeopathic remedy for various ailments.

Berries used to make ink in Pennsylvania Dutch regions.

Pomade extract from roots used for skin eruptions, skin
rash, and ringworms.

Pokeroot constituents shown to possess anti-inflammatory
properties and lowering blood pressure effects.

“Pokeroot antiviral protein” (PAP) has potential for
treatment of HIV and herpes.
American Cancer Society, 2007
Advantages Continued

PAP has also shown to have anti-tumor effects
in mice.
 Pokeweed can also be used to treat rheumatoid
arthritis, tonsillitis, mumps, swollen glands,
bronchitis, mastitis, etc.
 As an herb, it is effective for joint inflammation,
ulcers, etc.
 External application of a preparation made from
the plant has “claimed” to relieve itching,
inflammation, and skin diseases.
American Cancer Society, 2007
Components Found in Pokeweed
Structures of (I) phytolacccagenin, (II) oleanic acid, and (III) betanin
Reported Cases

In rodents, research showed that PAP demonstrated
anti-cancer effects (American Cancer Society, 2007).

PAP combined with an immunotherapy drug (TP-3) has
shown promise as a potential treatment for some soft
tissue sarcomas (Anderson et al., 1995).

Studies in the lab have found certain formulations of
PAP may be useful against cancer cells involved in
prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer (American Cancer
Society, 2007).
Reported Cases

PAP significantly
improved the capacity
for survival of mice
infected with
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis Virus
(LCMV) (Uckun, et al.,
2005).
Conclusions

Positive aspects outweigh negative ones?
 Caution should be followed if pokeweed is
consumed.
 Important to boil the plant to remove the toxins
and discard the water.
 Prevent small children from handling and
ingesting berries.
 Control either by cutting down and digging up
roots or using an effective herbicide.
Questions