Active principles: aerial parts: cardiac glycosides (bufadienolides), hellebrin, steroid saponins (helleborin), ranunculoside, alkaloids (celliamine, sprintillamine).

Wink, M. (2009). Mode of Action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants. Mitt. Julius Kuhn-Inst. 421:93-111. p.99

Class 1a: Extremely hazardous: cardiac glycosides inhibit Na+,K+-ATPase, cardiac glycoside intoxication, vomiting, gastroenteritis with violent diarrhoea, delirium, convulsions, arrhythmia, death by respiratory arrest, alkaloids have similar properties as veratrine and aconitine.

Wink, M. (2009). Mode of Action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants. Mitt. Julius Kuhn-Inst. 421:93-111. p.99

Toxic due to cardiac glycosides

Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

This plant has been used in traditional medicine. A very toxic plant that is considered to be useful for reducing blood pressure in various conditions of hypertension. The root contains the alkaloids nervine, pseudo-nervine and veratridine. This species has similar medicinal properties to the black hellebore, H. niger. These properties are:- Black hellebore is a very poisonous plant that is toxic when taken in all but the smallest doses.

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Helleborus+foetidus

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