Selected toxicological aspects of honey

Abstract

The aim of the present review was to analyze grayanotoxin and its healthy and poisoning effect to human health according to available resources of literature. Plants contain many compound components which can be categorized as "medical" or "poisonous" depending on their effects to human body.  There are also secondary products derived from plants, such as honey, which can contain many chemical compounds with medicinal or poisonous effects depending on their concentration and application. Many plants of the Ericaceae family, Rhododendron, Pieris, Agarista and Kalmia, contain diterpene grayanotoxins. The consumption of grayanotoxin containing leaves, flowers or secondary products as honey may result in intoxication specifically characterized by dizziness, hypotension and atrial-ventricular block.