Everyone has heard that green potatoes cannot be eaten. Allegedly, it contains poison. Popular opinion is justified, and even confirmed by science. The poison in green tubers is called solanine, but not only potatoes contain it. The poison solanine is found in green tomatoes, as well as in overripe eggplants. Solanine poisoning in humans almost never occurs, because To do this, you need to make some effort - eat a fairly large amount of a product containing the alkaloid solanine.

Poison in your kitchen? Can't be!

Let's figure out under what conditions a familiar product can be dangerous.

Potato

Solanine in potatoes

If solanine is in potatoes, then why is everyone still healthy? Yes, because no one thinks of cooking green or sprouted potatoes. The glycoalkaloid solanine is present in the tops, green peel, sprouts and berries of the potato plant, but you, of course, do not eat them. The solanine content in tubers is much lower than in other parts of the plant, amounting to about 0.01%.

Eggplant

The alkaloid solanine is especially fond of eggplants. It is the 0.3% contained in eggplants that gives the fruit bitterness. Determining the presence of solanine in eggplants is not difficult - the poisonous pulp has a brown tint. Even more toxic substance is present in the peel. Old, wrinkled, overripe fruits are especially dangerous; the solanine content in them increases significantly. When frying in oil and soaking in salt water, the toxic substance is destroyed.

Interesting! Did you know that eggplant is not a vegetable, but a berry, to be biologically accurate? And that in Asian countries it is customary to cook eggplants by peeling them from their beautiful and smooth skin?

Tomatoes

Solanine in green tomatoes

Solanine is only present in green tomatoes. 0.004-0.008% is not capable of imparting bitterness to the fruit, and you won’t eat a frankly green tomato. As soon as the tomatoes begin to ripen, acquire a whitish tint and grow to normal size, solanine almost leaves them. And for lovers of salted green tomatoes, there is also a saving argument - during salting, heat treatment associated with pickling, solanine is destroyed.

More representatives

It is impossible not to list other plants in which solanine is present. This:

• Bell pepper;
• Bay leaf;
• tobacco;
• nightshade;
• dope;
• henbane.

About doses and caution

Solanine in eggplant

Poisoning occurs if 200 to 400 mg of solanine gets into food. Translated into kilograms, this is 2–4 kg of potatoes, eggplants – a little less. However, it should be borne in mind that fresh, benign vegetables contain less poison, but in the fall the amount of solanine in potatoes increases. For example, in a tuber prepared for planting and frankly green, the solanine content reaches 500 mg in just 100 grams of product. In the peel, of course. And 100 grams of the same peeled tubers already contain 100 mg.

As you can see, if you suddenly decide to cook food from potatoes that have turned green in the light, you can easily get poisoned. If we determine the amount of solanine in dishes prepared from unsuitable potatoes, then a dose sufficient for severe intoxication will be present in 400 grams of the finished product. And sometimes this portion is not enough for a large adult man to eat!

Rule! Do not use vegetables that are unsuitable for food! These include green potatoes, raw beans, overripe eggplants, and green tomatoes.

Symptoms that are characteristic of solanine poisoning

Symptoms of solanine poisoning

The first symptoms are very difficult to differentiate from ordinary food poisoning. The first signs are:

• sharp pain in the abdomen;
• nausea;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• heat;
• headache.

In severe cases of intoxication, signs of central nervous system damage are observed:

• dilated pupils;
• inability to orientate normally.

If left untreated, the patient develops delirium, convulsions, and coma.

Treatment Basics

Treatment methods for this poisoning differ little from the general principles of care for food poisoning. Required:

• gastric lavage;
• taking activated carbon;
• prescribing laxatives to quickly rid the body of poison.

A patient with severe poisoning is hospitalized in the intensive care or toxicology department, where rehydration therapy and forced diuresis are performed.

For lovers of traditional medicine

Potato juice

The beneficial properties of vegetables, herbs, and fruits are widely used in folk medicine. The medicinal properties of raw vegetable juices are also widely advertised and used. In particular, raw potato juice is proposed to treat peptic ulcers, colitis and gastritis, hemorrhoids and various wounds. That's how many useful things there are in an ordinary product! However, so that the beneficial properties of potato juice are not lost, do not become harmful, or even poisonous, follow certain rules when choosing this treatment:

1. Follow the dosages exactly. Read the recipe carefully to see how much juice you can use and for how long. And follow the instructions strictly;
2. Start treatment gradually and monitor your body’s allergy response. After all, even seemingly harmless recipes can cause individual intolerance;
3. To make potato juice, do not use green or old tubers. Treat with potato juice only from September to January, because... During long-term storage, potatoes lose their beneficial properties, and the amount of solanine in them increases.

The beneficial properties of eggplant are also known. It is recommended to use it for gout, obesity, problems with blood vessels and heart, and anemia. However, they still do not consume it raw. And they do it right.

Tomato juice

Entire volumes have been written about the benefits of tomatoes. In folk medicine, tomatoes are used for such a list of diseases that it is difficult to list. However, beneficial properties are inherent only in ripe fruits, remember. And drink tomato juice daily - it has been proven to improve your mood. And marinate green tomatoes that contain solanine with garlic. And neutralize the poison, and diversify the menu.

For cottage lovers and villagers

Solanine has insecticide and fungicide properties. Therefore, it is widely used in agriculture as part of fertilizers and special poisons against pests. Use it, but remember to be careful.
We will also give advice to thrifty owners: you should not give the potatoes left over from planting to feed your pets. They can also be poisoned by solanine. No matter how many poor-quality tubers you have left, throw them away without regret. Take care of those you have tamed.
And remember - solanine is not destroyed during cooking!

Corned beef is a natural poison that is formed in plants of the nightshade family. A manifestation of its presence are green spots on potatoes. This poison is destroyed by exposure to vinegar or a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius.

Once in the body, the poison solanine depresses the nervous system and upsets the digestive tract. It has a destructive effect on red blood cells. A high protein content in the urine after testing indicates intoxication. With such poisoning, the kidneys and skin are affected.

The poison tends to accumulate in the body, which is very dangerous. If you eat an unripe or sprouted product, then signs of poisoning are not immediately observed. The presence of solanine does not appear instantly, but gradually with painful sensations in the joints. Cancer patients are advised to minimize the consumption of potatoes, since the toxic substance promotes the formation of new cancer cells.

Glycoalkaloid in other plants

Corned beef is found not only in potatoes, but also in other vegetables of the Solanaceae family. There is a lot of it in green tomatoes and the peel of ripe eggplants. Accumulating in unripe small and green tomatoes, the amount of the substance decreases as the fruits ripen. When they turn white, they contain a much lower concentration of the toxic substance. As soon as they become ripe, the poison in them disappears.

There are also plants in which the content of corned beef may exceed the permissible limits. These include:

• eggplants with blue ripe skin;
• unripe red pepper;
• Bay leaf;
• tobacco;
• dope;
• henbane.

The last two plants are known to many of us for their highly poisonous effects. The greatest danger lies in their seeds.

Signs and symptoms of poisoning

By consuming unripe potatoes or sprouted root vegetables, the body receives a dose of poison, which leads to poisoning. This substance causes great harm to the digestive system. General intoxication is manifested by different symptoms:

• severe diarrhea;
• nausea leading to vomiting;
• paroxysmal pain in the abdominal area;
• sore throat and bitterness in the mouth.

After about 2 hours, toxic substances are absorbed into the blood. Many vital organs begin to suffer from this: the heart and blood vessels, the respiratory, nervous and urinary systems. The person experiences difficulty breathing and appears lethargic and dizzy. Weakness in the joints and muscles, and a decrease in the volume of urine excreted are also observed.

With severe solanine poisoning, you may notice more severe symptoms of poisoning that are life-threatening. The pressure begins to drop, sometimes to a critical level. The victim's heart rate increases, as well as disruptions that lead to a slow heart rate.

Toxins have a destructive effect on red blood cells, after which convulsions occur and general paralysis can occur. Death occurs from dysfunction of the respiratory center.

Giving help

At the first signs of solanine poisoning, the victim needs to rinse the intestines. The organ needs to get rid of the poison. Using a light solution of potassium permanganate, it is necessary to lavage the stomach. After this, various sorbents are usually taken, for example, activated carbon. And it is also recommended to drink drinks with an enveloping effect - jelly, milk, egg white. A decoction of oak bark and tannin help a lot. With minor manifestations of intoxication, such measures help if they are carried out immediately. Then you should definitely seek medical help.

If the body is severely damaged, then assistance is provided in a hospital setting. In this case, doctors use various means to remove the toxic substance from the intestines. Usually, gastric lavage is done, diuresis is stimulated, and intravenous drip solutions are administered. Symptomatic treatment is limited to maintaining normal breathing, kidney and heart function. Sometimes seriously ill patients take antibiotics.

Precautionary measures

In order not to expose the body to the danger of solanine poisoning, you should adhere to some rules for eating potatoes. You also need to pay attention to root vegetables when purchasing.

You need to remember that sprouted potatoes are unsuitable for food. When green spots appear on the tubers, they should be cut deeper. After purchasing vegetable supplies for the winter, you need to store them properly. It is recommended to dry the potatoes well before sending them to the cellar.

It is necessary to provide root crops prepared for the winter with normal conditions for their storage:

• humidity not more than 90%;
• temperature about +3 o C.

Eggplants need to be peeled, and only ripe tomatoes should be consumed. Green fruits can be pickled, since acetic acid neutralizes the effect of corned beef. During heat treatment, it is destroyed when the temperature reaches 250 o C, so ordinary home methods of preparing potato dishes will not be able to destroy the poison, which is dangerous to health.

The famous traveler Christopher Columbus brought several nightshade plants to Europe from America - potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, eggplants, peppers. All plants of the family had the reputation of being poisonous. It was believed that they destroy the brain, cause hallucinations and an early death. The poison in nightshade fruits is called solanine. Solanine poisoning occurs when the fruits of the nightshade family are improperly consumed. Let's figure out where exactly solanine is found. And when can nightshade plants cause poisoning in humans?

History of the spread of potatoes

Today's “second bread” has a long history of entering our culture. There have been repeated attempts to introduce potatoes into peasant farming. However, both in Europe and on the territory of Rus', “potato” riots broke out more than once. What is the reason for such a negative attitude of ordinary people towards the nightshade plant?

Like all nightshades, potatoes contain solanine. This toxic substance is distributed unevenly throughout all parts of the plant. The largest amount of solanine is found in potato berries and sprouted green tubers. The smallest is in the roots and tubers (in the potatoes that we eat every day).

Potato berries and young green tubers became the cause of most poisonings when nightshades were introduced into agriculture.

Therefore, potatoes (as well as tomatoes) were planted exclusively for decorative purposes in the 16th century. They were cultivated for bouquets and fashion decorations.

What is solanine

Solanine is a toxic substance that nightshade plants produce to protect themselves. The insecticidal and fungicidal properties of the poison have been used in medical practice.

The fungicidal properties of solanine became the basis of a herbal antiviral agent called Panavir. It contains potato stem extract and is used to treat various forms of herpes.

The insecticidal properties of nightshades are used in gardening to combat harmful insects (aphids are sprayed with infusion of potato tops).

Where present

People are often surprised by the fact that potatoes can cause food poisoning. However, this is true. If they are consumed incorrectly, the body becomes intoxicated with poison.

The following plants belong to the nightshade group:

• potato;
• tomatoes;
• eggplant;
• sweet peppers;
• tobacco;
• nightshade;
• dope;
• henbane;
• Bay leaf.

Solanine is found in different parts of plants in varying amounts. For example, all parts of henbane are poisonous, especially the seeds. And in potatoes, above-ground fruits (potato berries) and green tubers are poisonous. In tomatoes, unripe green tomatoes are poisonous. As for eggplants, poison accumulates in the pulp of the fruit when overripe.

Therefore, eating potatoes or young green tubers that have turned green in the spring, or using unripe tomatoes for making salads increases the likelihood of solanine poisoning. The severity of poisoning (severe vomiting and diarrhea or general malaise, headache) depends on the amount of poison.

Critical dose

The critical dose of solanine that causes human poisoning is 200-400 mg of the toxic substance. Considering that potato tubers contain 0.05% solanine, it can be calculated that the critical dose of potatoes (which can cause poisoning) is from 2 to 4 kilograms of unpeeled tubers.

It is important to know that when peeling, the amount of solanine is reduced by 80%, because most of the toxic substance is concentrated in the peel.

With such calculations we show that it is almost impossible to get poisoned by fresh autumn potatoes.

The amount of solanine in potatoes reaches critical values ​​when storing tubers in the light. At the same time, they accumulate up to 500 mg per 100 g of potatoes. Even taking into account that 80% of solanine is removed with the peel, 100 mg of solanine per 100 g of pulp remains in the pulp. This means that for poisoning it is enough to eat a good portion of boiled or fried potatoes (400 g).

It is important to know: heat treatment does not neutralize the poison. Therefore, no amount of boiling can make a green tuber edible.

As for tomatoes, their fruits are poisonous only when unripe. A ripe red tomato contains almost no solanine.

How does a toxic substance affect the human body?

Solanine: how the body is poisoned

The poison solanine depresses the nervous system, upsets digestion and destroys red blood cells. In this case, a medical urine test shows an increased amount of protein (this is dead red blood cells being removed).

When excreted from the body, solanine also affects the kidneys and skin. These lesions are especially noticeable in chronic (permanent) poisoning.

Solanine has the ability to accumulate in the body. A small amount of the substance in potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants does not cause poisoning, but when accumulated it becomes the cause of joint diseases (arthrosis and arthritis).

In addition, solanine forms black bile and promotes the formation of cancer cells. Therefore, potatoes are also limited in the diet of cancer patients.

Symptoms of solanine poisoning

Solanine is a bitter poison. Therefore, in addition to the traditional symptoms of poisoning (nausea, weakness, pain in the stomach and head), there is a bitter taste in the mouth and a burning sensation at the root of the tongue.

During poisoning, nervous symptoms or gastric disturbances may predominate. Since the nervous system is depressed, a person’s breathing becomes intermittent and uneven, shortness of breath and an arrhythmic pulse may appear. And one more thing: the pupils dilate, the amount of saliva increases.

Solanine poisoning is not always accompanied by diarrhea. But if an intestinal disorder does occur, the stool has a foul odor.

Severe poisoning causes cramps in the calf muscles, loss of consciousness and coma.

Chronic poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms: inflammation of the oral mucosa, skin itching (similar to an allergy), drowsiness, and constant headaches.

First aid and treatment

In case of solanine poisoning, it is important to remove the toxic substance from the stomach and intestines as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to rinse your stomach (drink up to 2 liters of water and induce vomiting) and do a cleansing enema (also with 2 liters of salted water).

Hydrotherapy by Sebastian Kneipp recommends using a wet sheet (“Spanish cloak”) to speed up the removal of toxic substances through the skin. When treating solanine poisoning, this procedure helps to remove the poison circulating in the blood as quickly as possible.

If your condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment of solanine poisoning in the hospital includes (in addition to washing the intestines and stomach) also drips with glucose, taking sorbents (Enterosgel, activated carbon), drinking Regidron (to eliminate dehydration).

Precautionary measures

Nightshade plants form the basis of our diet. Potatoes have the glory of second bread, tomatoes and sweet peppers are the basis of any summer salads. Giving up nightshades is difficult and not always possible. What should I do? How to eat the fruits of the nightshade family correctly?

• The amount of solanine in freshly dug tubers rarely exceeds 10 mg per 100 g of potatoes (this is 0.01%). By spring, the solanine content in tubers increases (the plant is preparing to germinate) three to four times, and often exceeds the threshold of 0.04-0.05%. In this case, the poison is concentrated under the skin and in the skin of the tubers. Therefore, make it a rule to eat a lot of potatoes only before the New Year. In spring, limit the amount of potatoes to first courses, while peeling off at least 0.5 cm of the skin.
• The green parts of potatoes contain a dangerous dose of solanine. They cannot be eaten. But according to sanitary standards, the greening of 1/4 of the surface of the tuber makes it unsuitable for food for both humans and animals.
• Potatoes must be stored in a dark place. This will ensure the minimum amount of solanine in the tubers.
• Selection achievements provide us with varieties with a reduced solanine content. Grow them in your garden.
• Solanine is destroyed by acetic acid, and its amount decreases when the vegetable is soaked in salt water.
• You can determine the amount of solanine in eggplants by visually assessing the color of the pulp. There is little solanine in the light green pulp of young eggplants. There is a lot of solanine in the yellow-brown pulp of old, overripe fruits.

Solanine causes joint inflammation and itchy skin. Solanine poisoning can be acute or chronic (occur over several years). Knowledge of the concentrations of poison in different parts of nightshade plants helps to maintain health and prevent poisoning.

Solanine is a poison contained in the fruits, leaves, and flowers of plants of the nightshade family. It is well known from history lessons that people used to consider potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants to be poisonous plants.

It happened quite often at that time. The reason for this is the harmful substance found in their composition.

So what is solanine, and why is it dangerous for humans?

What kind of poison

Solanine is a toxic alkaloid formed in plants and protects them from various pests. This is its benefit in the plant world.

In dry form it is a crystalline substance. It does not dissolve in aqueous solutions, but, on the contrary, is highly soluble in alcohol solutions.

Solanine belongs to the group of glycoalkaloids, a class of steroids. Therefore, this substance also has certain beneficial properties. Steroid medications are often used to treat serious illnesses. Solanine, as part of medications, when used correctly, reduces inflammation, has an antiallergic effect, and tones the functioning of the cardiac system.

As a rule, medicines containing such a substance have no side effects. But still, you shouldn’t use them yourself. After all, solanine can cause quite serious harm to the body.

Where is solanine found?

Where is solanine found? These are any plants of the nightshade family - potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet peppers, bay leaves and others. The poison is distributed throughout the plant. Most of it is in the stem, leaves, and unripe fruits.

There is little solanine in root vegetables. Potatoes become dangerous if the tubers grow in the sun. In addition, improper storage of this vegetable in the light also leads to the formation of solanine. The amount of poison also increases with the age of potatoes; older ones contain more of it. In addition, such tubers form another dangerous poison for humans - chaconine.

Overripe eggplant fruit also contains solanine; unripe tomatoes are very dangerous due to the high content of poison in them.

How does poisoning occur?

Solanine intoxication occurs as a result of ingestion of a dosage in the body ranging from 200 to 400 mg of a toxic substance. It is worth knowing that if potatoes are stored improperly, the amount of poison in the tubers can be up to 500 mg per hundred grams of product.

That's a lot. Therefore, potatoes that have turned green during storage should not be eaten, otherwise quite serious poisoning may occur. You should also not think that heat-treated potatoes will be safe. The poison does not change its properties in any way.

People often give bad food to animals. There are frequent cases of solanine poisoning in pigs.

What happens in the body during solanine poisoning?

This substance has a negative effect on the human nervous system and disrupts the functioning of the digestive system. In this case, changes occur in the blood, red blood cells are destroyed.

The poison is eliminated through the genitourinary system, also having a destructive effect on it.

It should be borne in mind that solanine has the ability to accumulate in the body when it is constantly consumed in food in small doses. This can cause diseases of the bones and joints.

In addition, there is scientific evidence that this poison can provoke the occurrence of malignant tumors.

Signs and symptoms of poisoning

How does solanine intoxication manifest? Determining poisoning will not cause difficulties due to the fairly rapid onset of symptoms.

Symptoms:

• Nausea, vomiting,
• Bitterness in the mouth
• Diarrhea,
• Pain in the abdomen,
• Sore throat,
• Weakness, lethargy,
• Respiratory dysfunction
• The occurrence of dizziness,
• Decreased urine output
• Decrease in pressure,
• Disturbance of the cardiac system,
• Paralysis, convulsions.

Severe poisoning leads to death as a result of complete disruption of respiratory function.

First aid and treatment

If signs of intoxication are detected, it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim and call a doctor.

Help:

• A poisoned person needs to rinse his stomach with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
• After washing, the person is given sorbents to drink to quickly remove toxins from the body.
• You can use various laxatives for the same purpose.
• The victim must be kept at rest.

Treatment is carried out in hospitals. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, doctors select the necessary treatment methods. Various medications are used to restore the functioning of body systems.

Precautionary measures

What to do to avoid solanine poisoning? To do this, it is enough to follow a number of certain rules.

Rules:

• Green, unripe tomatoes should not be eaten.
• It is better to throw away any green potatoes.
• Potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from light.
• Most of this vegetable can be eaten before the New Year, and then its consumption must be reduced. The longer it is stored, the more solanine accumulates in the tubers.
• You should not eat potatoes with sprouts.
• You need to peel the eggplants.

Following these rules will help you avoid getting poisoned.

Consequences of intoxication

Solanine has a negative effect on the human nervous system. In the future, this is fraught with various diseases. Constant consumption of such a substance causes diseases of the joints and bones. In this case, exacerbation of various chronic ailments is possible. The most serious consequence is the death of a person.

Solanine is a poison that has a rather negative effect on the human body. It’s easy to get poisoned by it; you should especially carefully monitor children who like to taste everything. If signs of poisoning are detected, the person must be helped and taken to the hospital. To avoid this, you should adhere to certain rules.

Video: solanine instructions for use

The famous traveler Christopher Columbus brought several nightshade plants to Europe from America - potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, eggplants, peppers. All plants of the family had the reputation of being poisonous. It was believed that they destroy the brain, cause hallucinations and an early death. The poison in nightshade fruits is called solanine. Solanine poisoning occurs when the fruits of the nightshade family are improperly consumed. Let's figure out where exactly solanine is found. And when can nightshade plants cause poisoning in humans?

Contents [Show]

History of the spread of potatoes

Today's “second bread” has a long history of entering our culture. There have been repeated attempts to introduce potatoes into peasant farming. However, both in Europe and on the territory of Rus', “potato” riots broke out more than once. What is the reason for such a negative attitude of ordinary people towards the nightshade plant?

Like all nightshades, potatoes contain solanine. This toxic substance is distributed unevenly throughout all parts of the plant. The largest amount of solanine is found in potato berries and sprouted green tubers. The smallest is in the roots and tubers (in the potatoes that we eat every day).

Potato berries and young green tubers became the cause of most poisonings when nightshades were introduced into agriculture.

Therefore, potatoes (as well as tomatoes) were planted exclusively for decorative purposes in the 16th century. They were cultivated for bouquets and fashion decorations.

What is solanine

Solanine is a toxic substance that nightshade plants produce to protect themselves. The insecticidal and fungicidal properties of the poison have been used in medical practice.

The fungicidal properties of solanine became the basis of a herbal antiviral agent called Panavir. It contains potato stem extract and is used to treat various forms of herpes.

The insecticidal properties of nightshades are used in gardening to combat harmful insects (aphids are sprayed with infusion of potato tops).

Where present

People are often surprised by the fact that potatoes can cause food poisoning. However, this is true. If they are consumed incorrectly, the body becomes intoxicated with poison.

The following plants belong to the nightshade group:

• potato;
• tomatoes;
• eggplant;
• sweet peppers;
• tobacco;
• nightshade;
• dope;
• henbane;
• Bay leaf.

Solanine is found in different parts of plants in varying amounts. For example, all parts of henbane are poisonous, especially the seeds. And in potatoes, above-ground fruits (potato berries) and green tubers are poisonous. In tomatoes, unripe green tomatoes are poisonous. As for eggplants, poison accumulates in the pulp of the fruit when overripe.

Therefore, eating potatoes or young green tubers that have turned green in the spring, or using unripe tomatoes for making salads increases the likelihood of solanine poisoning. The severity of poisoning (severe vomiting and diarrhea or general malaise, headache) depends on the amount of poison.

Critical dose

The critical dose of solanine that causes human poisoning is 200-400 mg of the toxic substance. Considering that potato tubers contain 0.05% solanine, it can be calculated that the critical dose of potatoes (which can cause poisoning) is from 2 to 4 kilograms of unpeeled tubers.

It is important to know that when peeling, the amount of solanine is reduced by 80%, because most of the toxic substance is concentrated in the peel.

With such calculations we show that it is almost impossible to get poisoned by fresh autumn potatoes.

The amount of solanine in potatoes reaches critical values ​​when storing tubers in the light. At the same time, they accumulate up to 500 mg per 100 g of potatoes. Even taking into account that 80% of solanine is removed with the peel, 100 mg of solanine per 100 g of pulp remains in the pulp. This means that for poisoning it is enough to eat a good portion of boiled or fried potatoes (400 g).

It is important to know: heat treatment does not neutralize the poison. Therefore, no amount of boiling can make a green tuber edible.

As for tomatoes, their fruits are poisonous only when unripe. A ripe red tomato contains almost no solanine.

How does a toxic substance affect the human body?

Solanine: how the body is poisoned

The poison solanine depresses the nervous system, upsets digestion and destroys red blood cells. In this case, a medical urine test shows an increased amount of protein (this is dead red blood cells being removed).

When excreted from the body, solanine also affects the kidneys and skin. These lesions are especially noticeable in chronic (permanent) poisoning.

Solanine has the ability to accumulate in the body. A small amount of the substance in potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants does not cause poisoning, but when accumulated it becomes the cause of joint diseases (arthrosis and arthritis).

In addition, solanine forms black bile and promotes the formation of cancer cells. Therefore, potatoes are also limited in the diet of cancer patients.

Symptoms of solanine poisoning

Solanine is a bitter poison. Therefore, in addition to the traditional symptoms of poisoning (nausea, weakness, pain in the stomach and head), there is a bitter taste in the mouth and a burning sensation at the root of the tongue.

During poisoning, nervous symptoms or gastric disturbances may predominate. Since the nervous system is depressed, a person’s breathing becomes intermittent and uneven, shortness of breath and an arrhythmic pulse may appear. And one more thing: the pupils dilate, the amount of saliva increases.

Solanine poisoning is not always accompanied by diarrhea. But if an intestinal disorder does occur, the stool has a foul odor.

Severe poisoning causes cramps in the calf muscles, loss of consciousness and coma.

Chronic poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms: inflammation of the oral mucosa, skin itching (similar to an allergy), drowsiness, and constant headaches.

First aid and treatment

In case of solanine poisoning, it is important to remove the toxic substance from the stomach and intestines as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to rinse your stomach (drink up to 2 liters of water and induce vomiting) and do a cleansing enema (also with 2 liters of salted water).

Hydrotherapy by Sebastian Kneipp recommends using a wet sheet (“Spanish cloak”) to speed up the removal of toxic substances through the skin. When treating solanine poisoning, this procedure helps to remove the poison circulating in the blood as quickly as possible.

If your condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment of solanine poisoning in the hospital includes (in addition to washing the intestines and stomach) also drips with glucose, taking sorbents (Enterosgel, activated carbon), drinking Regidron (to eliminate dehydration).

Precautionary measures

Nightshade plants form the basis of our diet. Potatoes have the glory of second bread, tomatoes and sweet peppers are the basis of any summer salads. Giving up nightshades is difficult and not always possible. What should I do? How to eat the fruits of the nightshade family correctly?

• The amount of solanine in freshly dug tubers rarely exceeds 10 mg per 100 g of potatoes (this is 0.01%). By spring, the solanine content in tubers increases (the plant is preparing to germinate) three to four times, and often exceeds the threshold of 0.04-0.05%. In this case, the poison is concentrated under the skin and in the skin of the tubers. Therefore, make it a rule to eat a lot of potatoes only before the New Year. In spring, limit the amount of potatoes to first courses, while peeling off at least 0.5 cm of the skin.
• The green parts of potatoes contain a dangerous dose of solanine. They cannot be eaten. But according to sanitary standards, the greening of 1/4 of the surface of the tuber makes it unsuitable for food for both humans and animals.
• Potatoes must be stored in a dark place. This will ensure the minimum amount of solanine in the tubers.
• Selection achievements provide us with varieties with a reduced solanine content. Grow them in your garden.
• Solanine is destroyed by acetic acid, and its amount decreases when the vegetable is soaked in salt water.
• You can determine the amount of solanine in eggplants by visually assessing the color of the pulp. There is little solanine in the light green pulp of young eggplants. There is a lot of solanine in the yellow-brown pulp of old, overripe fruits.

Solanine causes joint inflammation and itchy skin. Solanine poisoning can be acute or chronic (occur over several years). Knowledge of the concentrations of poison in different parts of nightshade plants helps to maintain health and prevent poisoning.

Solanine is a toxic glycoalkaloid formed in plants of the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes). In plants it performs a protective function, having fungicidal and insecticidal properties.

Source: depositphotos.com

Especially a lot of alkaloids accumulate in potato tubers in the spring, since preparation for the growing season begins in February. To prevent rotting, in order to stimulate metabolic processes and sprout germination in tubers, the synthesis of solanine is activated. In the spring, during storage, its level in tubers increases 4-5 times and reaches 40–70 mg%. Most of all it accumulates in green areas, in the peel, around the eyes and especially in sprouts. The longer the sprouts of a potato, the more dangerous it is to eat.

In eggplants, solanine is concentrated mainly in the peel, although the pulp also contains at least 0.03%, which gives the fruit a characteristic bitter taste. The higher the solanine content in the eggplant, the more intense the brown tint it acquires when cut.

The alkaloid is also found in unripened green tomatoes, where its concentration does not exceed 0.008%. As the fruit ripens and grows, the amount of solanine decreases significantly, becoming practically undetectable by the time the tomato becomes suitable for consumption.

How does solanine poisoning occur?

Solanine poisoning is possible when eating vegetables that have been stored incorrectly or for a long time:

• green, sprouted or rotten potato tubers;
• green tomatoes;
• old, crushed, long-stored eggplants.

Solanine accumulates especially quickly in the 2 mm thick peripheral layer of potatoes when washed tubers are stored in transparent bags or nets.

Poisoning occurs when 200-400 mg of the alkaloid enters the body, which in terms of the weight of the product corresponds to 2-4 kg of unpeeled potatoes. The solanine content in sprouted tubers is much higher - from 100 to 500 mg per 100 g of product (in peeled and unpeeled form, respectively).

The amount of solanine is significantly reduced with proper cooking. When potatoes are boiled in their skins, solanine is preserved, but when peeled potatoes are boiled, most of it goes into a decoction. It is safe to eat tubers cooked in their skins only until the end of autumn.

Sometimes poisoning occurs when self-medicating at home with tinctures and decoctions prepared on potato sprouts or peels.

Symptoms of poisoning

In large doses, solanine depresses the central nervous system and causes hemolysis of red blood cells; in small concentrations it leads to acute poisoning.

Symptoms of intoxication are nonspecific:

• general malaise, lethargy and drowsiness;
• loss of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• bloating, cramping pain in the umbilical area;
• loose stool.

Source: depositphotos.com

The local irritating effect is manifested by a sore throat, bitterness in the mouth, active salivation, and possible ulceration of the oral mucosa.

In case of severe poisoning, the symptoms of the neurotoxic effect of solanine come to the fore:

• headache, dizziness;
• depression of consciousness or speech and motor agitation;
• unsteadiness of gait;
• disorientation;
• persistent pupil dilation;
• tonic and clonic convulsions;
• hallucinations, delusions;
• stupor or coma.

In addition to signs of damage to the nervous system, victims experience shortness of breath, tachycardia, decreased blood pressure, and decreased urination.

First aid for solanine poisoning

1. Carry out gastric lavage by drinking 1-1.5 liters of warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue.
2. Take enterosorbent (Enterosgel, Polysorb, Polyphepan, Laktofiltrum).
3. Take a saline laxative (Magnesium sulfate) if there is no diarrhea.
4. Ensure adequate hydration to aid detoxification and prevent dehydration.
5. In case of neuropsychic agitation, take a herbal-based sedative (tincture of valerian, motherwort, lily of the valley).

When is medical attention required?

Medical attention is needed if:

• despite the provision of first aid, the victim’s condition worsens or there is no positive dynamics;
• there is an admixture of blood in the vomit or stool;
• the victim is unconscious;
• convulsive syndrome developed;
• delirious syndrome developed;
• a child, an elderly person or a pregnant woman was injured.

There is no specific antidote. Treatment of severe solanine poisoning includes detoxification, maintaining vital functions, primarily breathing and cardiac activity, and restoring water-salt balance. Symptomatic therapy is carried out aimed at eliminating nervous system dysfunction.

Possible consequences

Against the background of solanine poisoning, reactive inflammation of the pancreas, liver tissue, biliary tract, acute renal failure, acute gastritis, gastroenteritis, and irritable bowel syndrome are possible.

Prevention

1. Thoroughly peel potatoes from eyes before eating.
2. Do not eat sprouted or green potatoes.
3. Do not store potatoes in nets or clear plastic bags.
4. Do not expose stored potatoes to direct sunlight.
5. Do not eat tomatoes and eggplants that are not yet ripe or overripe.
6. Remember about the toxicity of potato sprouts and their peels when treating with unconventional methods.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

The information is generalized and is provided for informational purposes. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous to health!

Potatoes can be called the most popular and affordable vegetable at any time of the year. Many delicious and healthy dishes are prepared from it. Nowadays, few people know that 200 years ago there were popular riots against the cultivation of this crop. The reason for this was frequent poisoning by the nightshade plant, since unripe tubers contain the toxic substance corned beef.

About plant poison

This toxic substance was discovered in some plants as early as 1820. From Latin, corned beef is translated as “nightshade.” This glycoalkaloid, according to some scientists, is necessary for nightshades to protect young shoots from animals. For vegetation, it plays an important role in metabolism.

Corned beef is found in potato shoots and flowers. This is a natural poison of plant origin, consisting of glucose and solanoidin. The substance has a crystalline structure and is almost insoluble in water, but is easily diluted in alcohol. Such poison is always present in nightshade crops.

The least amount of glycoalkaloid is found in potato roots, more precisely, in their peel. It is also found in unripe tomatoes and in the peel of ripe eggplants. The most toxic substance is present in green and sprouted potatoes. Its ripened tubers contain a minimal amount of corned beef. The poison, entering the human body, causes a sharp stimulation of the nervous system and leads to a malfunction of the entire body.

The toxic substance is distributed unevenly in plants. There is very little of it in good mature potato roots and it is not hazardous to health if consumed daily. The highest concentration of the substance is concentrated in berries after flowering and in green and sprouted tubers. The amount of its content depends on the parts of the vegetable crop:

• unripe root vegetables - 1%;
• flowers - up to 0.7%;
• sprouts - up to 0.5%;
• peel - up to 0.06%;
• tops - 0.25%;
• ripened potatoes - up to 0.007%.

Research by scientists has shown that the amount of poison content is influenced by several factors:

• climate;
• weather;
• variety.

The amount of poison may change due to direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, as well as with a sharp drop in temperature. The content of salonin in unsuitable root vegetables when they are rotten is very dangerous.

In the spring, potatoes begin to undergo a period of exacerbation associated with the growing season. At this time, the amount of corned beef increases almost 5 times. It is believed that the longer the sprouts in root vegetables, the more dangerous it is for the body.

Mechanism of poisoning

Many people don’t even suspect how dangerous corned beef is in potatoes, since rarely does anyone know about its content in the vegetable. When the culture first appeared in Russia, potato poisoning was a common occurrence. At that time, not everyone knew how to use it correctly.

Now potatoes have become a familiar product, as they are included in many popular dishes. A quality product brings health benefits. Modern people know that its flowers and shoots should not be consumed. The danger of poisoning arises if you eat sprouted vegetables with peel, as well as green potato peelings and flowers.

Once in the body, the poison solanine depresses the nervous system and upsets the digestive tract. It has a destructive effect on red blood cells. A high protein content in the urine after testing indicates intoxication. With such poisoning, the kidneys and skin are affected.

The poison tends to accumulate in the body, which is very dangerous. If you eat an unripe or sprouted product, then signs of poisoning are not immediately observed. The presence of solanine does not appear instantly, but gradually with painful sensations in the joints. Cancer patients are advised to minimize the consumption of potatoes, since the toxic substance promotes the formation of new cancer cells.

Glycoalkaloid in other plants

Corned beef is found not only in potatoes, but also in other vegetables of the Solanaceae family. There is a lot of it in green tomatoes and the peel of ripe eggplants. Accumulating in unripe small and green tomatoes, the amount of the substance decreases as the fruits ripen. When they turn white, they contain a much lower concentration of the toxic substance. As soon as they become ripe, the poison in them disappears.

There are also plants in which the content of corned beef may exceed the permissible limits. These include:

• eggplants with blue ripe skin;
• unripe red pepper;
• black nightshade;
• Bay leaf;
• tobacco;
• dope;
• henbane.

The last two plants are known to many of us for their highly poisonous effects. The greatest danger lies in their seeds.

Signs and symptoms of poisoning

By consuming unripe potatoes or sprouted root vegetables, the body receives a dose of poison, which leads to poisoning. This substance causes great harm to the digestive system. General intoxication is manifested by different symptoms:

• severe diarrhea;
• nausea leading to vomiting;
• paroxysmal pain in the abdominal area;
• sore throat and bitterness in the mouth.

After about 2 hours, toxic substances are absorbed into the blood. Many vital organs begin to suffer from this: the heart and blood vessels, the respiratory, nervous and urinary systems. The person experiences difficulty breathing and appears lethargic and dizzy. Weakness in the joints and muscles, and a decrease in the volume of urine excreted are also observed.

With severe solanine poisoning, you may notice more severe symptoms of poisoning that are life-threatening. The pressure begins to drop, sometimes to a critical level. The victim's heart rate increases, as well as disruptions that lead to a slow heart rate.

Toxins have a destructive effect on red blood cells, after which convulsions occur and general paralysis can occur. Death occurs from dysfunction of the respiratory center.

Giving help

At the first signs of solanine poisoning, the victim needs to rinse the intestines. The organ needs to get rid of the poison. Using a light solution of potassium permanganate, it is necessary to lavage the stomach. After this, various sorbents are usually taken, for example, activated carbon. And it is also recommended to drink drinks with an enveloping effect - jelly, milk, egg white. A decoction of oak bark and tannin help a lot. With minor manifestations of intoxication, such measures help if they are carried out immediately. Then you should definitely seek medical help.

If the body is severely damaged, then assistance is provided in a hospital setting. In this case, doctors use various means to remove the toxic substance from the intestines. Usually, gastric lavage is done, diuresis is stimulated, and intravenous drip solutions are administered. Symptomatic treatment is limited to maintaining normal breathing, kidney and heart function. Sometimes seriously ill patients take antibiotics.

Precautionary measures

In order not to expose the body to the danger of solanine poisoning, you should adhere to some rules for eating potatoes. You also need to pay attention to root vegetables when purchasing.

You need to remember that sprouted potatoes are unsuitable for food. When green spots appear on the tubers, they should be cut deeper. After purchasing vegetable supplies for the winter, you need to store them properly. It is recommended to dry the potatoes well before sending them to the cellar.

It is necessary to provide root crops prepared for the winter with normal conditions for their storage:

• humidity not more than 90%;
• temperature is about +3°C.

Eggplants need to be peeled, and only ripe tomatoes should be consumed. Green fruits can be pickled, since acetic acid neutralizes the effect of corned beef. During heat treatment, it is destroyed when the temperature reaches 250°C, so ordinary home methods for preparing potato dishes will not be able to destroy the poison, which is dangerous to health.

There are many concerns about solanine poisoning from potatoes, but at the same time, little information can be found on the Internet about this. There are conflicting opinions, for example, about the effectiveness of neutralizing poison by heat treatment of potatoes. And some give recommendations on forums on the therapeutic use of the toxin.

Let's find out what solanine is, are there cases of poisoning with it in people? What fruits contain it, what is the toxicity level? We will also look at ways to neutralize poison, symptoms of poisoning, treatment and prevention of poisoning. First, let's look at what solanine is.

What kind of poison is solanine?

Solanine is a natural poison of plant origin. It consists of glucose and solanoidin. The structure of the substance is represented by crystals. It is practically insoluble in water, but dilutes well with alcohol. Solanine is found in members of the nightshade family.

Solanine is found in all parts of the plant, least of all in root vegetables. It is found in potatoes, the peel of ripe eggplants, and unripe tomatoes. Ripe potatoes contain very little toxin when properly stored for up to 3 months. After six months, the amount of solanine in the tubers begins to increase and more of it is found in green sprouted potatoes.

Is it possible to be poisoned by solanine?

Theoretically, the likelihood of solanine intoxication appears if you eat boiled sprouted potatoes with skins, green potato sedums, unripe tomatoes, and unpeeled eggplants. But since practically no one does this, not a single case of solanine poisoning from potatoes and other root vegetables has been recorded.

Poisoning with toxin from other sources, especially berries from potato tops, green nightshade - this is more likely due to the high concentration of poison in them.

Toxic dose

Ripe potatoes contain only 0.05% solanine. But in old, green, sprouted potatoes, its concentration increases noticeably.

To get mild poisoning, it is enough to eat 20 mg of solanine contained in green potatoes, especially sprouted ones.

If 200–400 mg of poison enters the bloodstream, it is fatal. And since the absorption of the toxin does not occur completely, in order to cause such a content of toxin in the blood, even more solanine must enter the intestines. But eating such an amount of solanine is quite problematic.

Symptoms of solanine poisoning

The mechanism of action of solanine is associated with a direct toxic effect on tissues upon direct contact with them - the digestive system will suffer first. The use of a toxic dose will manifest itself:

• nausea;
• vomiting;
• loose stools;
• spasmodic pain in the abdomen;
• a feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
• sore throat.

On average, 2 hours after eating nightshade, solanine begins to enter the blood. Due to this, signs of toxic effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, and urinary systems appear. There is difficulty breathing, general weakness, lethargy, headaches, dizziness, decreased urination, protein appears in the urine, part of which is hemoglobin.

With severe solanine poisoning, symptoms appear:

• decreased blood pressure;
• heartbeat;
• interruptions in heart function followed by a slowdown in rhythm.

Under the influence of the poison, red blood cells are destroyed, muscle twitching begins, which turns into convulsions. They are followed by paresis and paralysis. Death occurs from the cessation of the respiratory center.

Giving help

First aid for solanine poisoning comes down to emptying the intestines of the poison. To do this, the stomach is washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then they give activated carbon or other drugs from the group of sorbents. It is recommended to drink enveloping drinks: jelly, milk, egg white. They give laxatives and astringents (tannin, oak bark). All this is done at an early stage if intoxication is suspected and in the shortest possible time. Then you need to call an ambulance.

In case of severe poisoning, treatment should be carried out in a hospital.

In this case, the hospital makes efforts to remove the poison from the intestines and blood by all available means. Gastric lavage is repeated, diuresis stimulation is prescribed, solutions are administered intravenously, hemosorption is carried out, and if necessary, hemodialysis. Symptomatic treatment is prescribed, aimed at maintaining normal breathing, heart and kidney function. In seriously ill patients, antibiotics are used to prevent infectious complications.

Prevention of solanine poisoning

Solanine during heat treatment is destroyed only after heating above 250⁰ C. That is, boiling and even frying (the boiling point of oil does not exceed 180⁰ C) does not destroy the natural toxin. What to do?

1. It is not recommended to eat sprouted potatoes.
2. If green areas appear on the tubers, you need to cut them off along with the peel.
3. It is important to know how to store potatoes correctly. Before wintering, the dug crop is well dried and kept in a cellar, basement or other place. It is important that it is cool, dry, and that ventilation is working - the tubers begin to deteriorate in heat and dampness. When conditions for germination are created, the amount of solanine in such root vegetables increases greatly. Potatoes are stored in boxes 1.5 meters high at a temperature of 2–3⁰ C, humidity no more than 90%.
4. Peeling the vegetables will get rid of solanine in eggplants.
5. Unripe tomatoes can only be used for pickling (acetic acid neutralizes the poison).

Let's sum it up

So, solanine is a complex plant poison found in the nightshade family. The toxin is resistant to temperature influences, so it is not destroyed by heat treatment of products at home. The toxin is not currently used for medicinal purposes. Just 20 mg of poison is enough to cause symptoms of poisoning. Therefore, you should not listen to the advice of those who like to undergo non-traditional treatment and take it for the sake of imaginary recovery.

Intoxication often occurs not from vegetables, but from eating green berries or other parts of the plant where the level of poison is high. Symptoms of poisoning develop gradually, which is associated with the absorption characteristics of solanine. Acidic drinks and, to a certain extent, a weak solution of potassium permanganate neutralize the poison, which helps in the treatment of such poisoning. Otherwise, the treatment does not differ from the general algorithm of actions for intoxication.