Generally, tomatine is regarded to cause less toxic effects to mammals than other alkaloids such as solanine. The human consumption of moderate amounts of tomatine seems to occur without notable toxic effects.
Is tomatine poisonous to humans?
The fruit isn't, but the leaves, roots, and stem (and, in limited doses, even some unripe fruit) are rich in tomatine, an alkaloid that's mildly toxic to humans. It won't kill you, unless you chow down pounds and pounds of it, but it is likely to cause you some gastrointestinal distress.
What role does tomatine play in the tomato plant and is it toxic to humans?
While it's true that tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, they actually produce a slightly different alkaloid called tomatine. Tomatine is also toxic but less so. However, when ingested in extremely large doses, it may cause gastrointestinal problems, liver, and even heart damage.
How much tomatine is in tomatoes?
α-Tomatine (9) is a saponin found in tomato plants, in high concentrations (0.04%). This is accumulated in healthy plants in its biologically active form. Successful pathogens of tomato are more resistant to α-tomatine in vitro because of their ability to break down α-tomatine using the enzyme tomatinase.
Is tomatine an alkaloid?
Tomatine is a poisonous alkaloid element found in the tomato plant. Scientists call it a glycoalkaloid and refer to its antifungal properties. Tomatine is found in the green parts of the plant, such as the leaves, stems, and unripe fruit.
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