{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000163","name":"Taxine B (Taxus alkaloids)","context":"human_adult","risk_level":"high","schema":"legacy","note":"Synthesis unavailable: compound lacks vectorizable regulatory classifications. Raw safety data returned.","data":{"risk_level":"high","summary":"Taxine B is the primary cardiotoxic alkaloid in Taxus species (yew trees and shrubs — T. baccata, T. brevifolia, T. canadensis, T. cuspidata, T. media). All parts of Taxus are toxic except the red aril flesh; the seeds within the aril are highly toxic. Taxine alkaloids inhibit cardiac calcium and sodium channel function, causing bradycardia, atrioventricular conduction block, and ventricular arrhythmias. Human poisoning from yew ingestion — accidental berry consumption, suicidal ingestion, or inadvertent herbal use — has a high fatality rate; death can occur within hours of ingesting a significant quantity of needles or seeds. An estimated 50 grams of yew needles may be lethal for an adult human. There is no specific antidote; management relies on advanced cardiac life support, atropine for bradycardia, and temporary cardiac pacing. Yew is commonly used as ornamental landscaping in temperate climates, creating widespread exposure opportunity. Human fatalities from yew ingestion are documented in emergency medicine literature — most frequently suicidal ingestions and accidental child poisonings.","source_refs":["aspca_taxus_yew_toxicity","knight_1995_taxus_cardiotoxicity"]},"meta":{"synthesis_version":"n/a","timestamp":"2026-05-01T18:39:13.355Z"}}