Tag: Pyrrole alkaloids

According to numerous horticultural experts and poison control centers, all parts of the fragrant garden heliotrope plant are toxic if ingested by humans or animals. Is garden heliotrope edible? The unequivocal answer is no, and understanding the risks is crucial for anyone with a garden or pets.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all oral comfrey products were advised to be removed from the market in 2001 due to serious health concerns, including severe liver damage. This warning applies directly to the practice of drinking comfrey tea, which contains toxic compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).

Every part of the beautiful heliotrope plant, often found in gardens for its fragrant, vanilla-scented blossoms, is poisonous and should never be consumed. The question, "Can you eat heliotrope?", is therefore a critical safety concern, not a nutritional query, due to the severe health risks posed by the toxic compounds it contains.