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Is viper's bugloss poisonous?
Viper's bugloss contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which cause liver fibrosis and irreversible liver failure with long term ingestion. Every part of the plant is poisonous. The toxic effects of alkaloids are cumulative, and lead to liver failure after several months. Symptoms are usually delayed, and can occur a few days, or a few weeks after ingestion. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, enlarged liver and spleen, gastroenteritis and acute liver disease. Viper's bugloss also has stiff hairs on leaves and stems, which can cause skin and eye irritation upon contact, as well as dermatitis. The hairs are especially irritating when the plant is dry.
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Viper's bugloss
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