Tag: Plant toxin

Phytophotodermatitis, a skin condition triggered by furocoumarins, typically takes 24 to 48 hours for its symptoms to appear after exposure to certain plants and sunlight. This inflammatory reaction is a direct toxic effect, not an allergic one, and results from a chemical process in the skin.

Over decades of research, scientists have identified a class of toxic compounds called furanoterpenoids, primarily ipomeamarone, which are the culprits behind sweet potato poisoning. These toxins are not present in fresh, healthy sweet potatoes but are produced by the plant in response to stress, most notably fungal infections.