Aganope heptaphylla
Aganope heptaphylla
Safety & Hazards
The plant contains rotenone and has been used traditionally as a fish poison - the rotenone kills or stuns the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly edible for mammals. Rotenone is classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to many insects (hence its use as an insecticide) and aquatic life, including fish. This higher toxicity in fish and insects is because the lipophilic rotenone is easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not as easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone, however, can be fatal. The compound decomposes when exposed to sunlight and usually has an activity of six days in the environment.
Botanical Description
Aganope heptaphylla is a climbing shrub with twining stems[ 1414 Title The Genera Aganope, Derris, and Paraderris (Fabaceae, Millettieae) in Thailand Publication Systematic Botany (2012) 37(2) pp 404-436 Author Sirichamorn Y.; Adema F.A.C.B.; & van Welzen P.C. Publisher Year 2012 ISBN Description ] The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It contains the insecticide rotenone, though in lower concentrations than several other species and so probably only suitable for local use as an insecticide.