Lily of The Valley - Toxicity

Toxicity

All parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children. If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate.

Roughly 38 different cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) have been found in the plant, some among others:

  • convallarin
  • convallamarin
  • convallatoxin
  • convallotoxoloside
  • convallosid
  • neoconvalloside
  • glucoconvalloside
  • majaloside
  • convallatoxon
  • corglycon
  • cannogenol-3-O-α--rhamnoside
  • cannogenol-3-O-β--allomethyloside
  • cannogenol-3-O-6-deoxy-β--allosido-β--glucoside,
  • cannogenol-3-O-6-deoxy-β--allosido-α--rhamnoside,
  • strophanthidin-3-O-6-deoxy-β--allosido-α--rhamnoside,
  • strophanthidin-3-O-6-deoxy-β--allosido-α--arabinoside,
  • strophanthidin-3-O-α--rhamnosido-2-β-D-glucoside,
  • sarmentogenin-3-O-6-deoxy-β--allosido-α--rhamnoside
  • sarmentogenin-3-O-6-deoxy-β--guloside
  • 19-hydroxy-sarmentogenin-3-O-α--rhamnoside,
  • 19-hydroxy-sarmentogenin
  • arabinosido-6-deoxyallose
  • lokundjoside

The plant also contains saponins. Although deadly, the plant has been used as a folk remedy in moderate amounts, and is currently used by herbalists as a restricted herbal remedy. It also contains the unusual, poisonous amino acid azetidine-2-carboxylic acid.

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