Plant Poisons in the Garden: A Human Risk Assessment

A study of the plants, and their associated poisons, in Poison Garden at The Alnwick was undertaken across a calendar year. By selecting 25 plants Garden, we have been able to develop single chromatographic method for determination quantification 15 plant toxins by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Chromatographic separation achieved on C18 column (3.5 µm, 100 × 4.6 mm) with gradient using water +0.1% formic acid methanol acid. developed validated precision, linearity, limits detection extraction recoveries. showed good linearity R2 value >0.995 all compounds precision 10.7%, 6.7% 0.3% low, medium high calibration points, respectively. LC-MS used analyse species, as well respective parts (i.e., bulb, flower, fruit, leaf, pollen, seed, stem root), assess human risk assessment children (aged 1 <2 years) relation toxin its LD50. analysis found that greatest potential health risks were due ingestion Colchicum autumnale Atropa belladonna. As caution, identified should be handled care additional precautionary steps ensure nil contact because likelihood hand-to-mouth ingestion.