Senecio jacobaea (Jacobaea vulgaris): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does Senecio jacobaea cause liver damage?

Senecio jacobaea contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) such as jacobine and senecionine, which are metabolized in the liver into reactive pyrrolic metabolites. These toxic metabolites bind to cellular proteins and DNA, causing hepatocyte necrosis and damage to endothelial cells lining the hepatic veins. This results in hepatic veno-occlusive disease, where small hepatic veins become obstructed. The liver damage is cumulative, progressive, and potentially fatal. Evidence Level: A for mechanism of PA toxicity.

Does Senecio jacobaea interact with medications?

Senecio jacobaea poses significant interaction risks due to its hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Combining it with other hepatotoxic medications, including acetaminophen, methotrexate, isoniazid, or certain antifungals, may compound liver damage. Additionally, any drug metabolized by the liver may have altered pharmacokinetics in patients with PA-induced liver injury. Due to severe toxicity, internal use should be avoided entirely. Evidence Level: C, based on known hepatotoxic mechanisms rather than clinical interaction studies.

What is a safe dosage of Senecio jacobaea?

There is no established safe internal dosage for Senecio jacobaea. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids it contains are potent hepatotoxins capable of causing irreversible liver damage, including veno-occlusive disease, even at low doses with chronic exposure. Regulatory agencies worldwide prohibit internal use in herbal products. Historical external applications for wounds are no longer recommended due to potential transdermal absorption through damaged skin. Evidence Level: A for toxicity.

Is Senecio jacobaea safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Senecio jacobaea is absolutely unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cross the placental barrier and can cause fetal hepatotoxicity and developmental harm. These compounds are excreted in breast milk and can induce liver damage in nursing infants. Animal studies have demonstrated teratogenic and embryotoxic effects. Complete avoidance of all Senecio species is essential during pregnancy and lactation. Evidence Level: A for contraindication.

What was Senecio jacobaea traditionally used for?

Senecio jacobaea has very limited traditional human medicinal use due to its well-recognized toxicity. Historically, it was occasionally applied externally for wound healing, though this practice is now strongly discouraged. The plant is primarily known as a toxic pasture weed that causes significant livestock poisoning. Modern herbal medicine does not recommend any therapeutic use. It serves mainly as a botanical reference for pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing hepatotoxic species. Evidence Level: Traditional/C.

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort) is a widespread grassland weed containing hepatotoxic and potentially carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids [PMID:38959287, PMID:835011].

Contexte

Also known as Jacobaea vulgaris, it is a noxious grassland weed [PMID:33529241, PMID:38959287].

Composés actifs

The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and their corresponding N-oxides (PANO), including senecionine, seneciphylline, jacoline, jaconine, jacobine, and jacozine [PMID:38959287, PMID:835011].

Mécanisme d'action

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are associated with hepatotoxicity and may induce liver lesions, including infiltration by immune cells, apoptotic cells, and enlargement of hepatocyte nuclei [PMID:38796745, PMID:37842997].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve DHepatotoxicity in Cattle

Cattle are susceptible to PA; death occurred if 2% of body weight of dried prebud plant was consumed within 20 days [PMID:567951]. Short-term exposure to 1.91 mg PA/kg BW/day led to liver histological changes [PMID:38796745].

Preuve DHepatotoxicity in Ponies

Feeding dried tansy ragwort as 10% of a complete diet decreased sulfobromophthalein (BSP) clearance rate to 20% of control values, indicating liver damage [PMID:6711974].

Preuve DHepatotoxicity in Sheep

Sheep demonstrated a capacity to voluntarily ingest ragwort (0.2-4.9 kg/day) without apparent impact on animal health [PMID:35454247, PMID:35625135]. However, lambs fed a diet of TR + Cu + Mo died with signs of PA poisoning [PMID:6703450].

Preuve DHepatotoxicity in Rats

Rats fed milk from goats fed tansy ragwort showed swollen hepatocytes of centrilobular distribution and biliary hyperplasia [PMID:7149409].

Grossesse et allaitement

In pregnant cows, lethal doses fed during gestation days 15-30 did not cause detectable damage to full-term fetuses, though some cows died after parturition due to stress-triggered seneciosis [PMID:6136244]. PAs are transferred into the milk of dairy goats [PMID:7149409] and dairy cows [PMID:38959287].

Synthèse des preuves

The evidence consists primarily of veterinary animal studies (cattle, sheep, ponies, rats) and botanical research. There are no human clinical trials. Evidence levels are predominantly D (animal/laboratory studies).

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 38959287 (2024) — Dose-response study on the transfer of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from a tansy ragwort extract (Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn.) to bovine milk. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2.PMID: 35454247 (2022) — Grazing Ecology of Sheep and Its Impact on Vegetation and Animal Health in Pastures Dominated by Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.)-Part 1: Vegetation. · Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
3.PMID: 39651990 (2025) — Grazing sheep on pastures with tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.) - results of a two-year study on ingested pyrrolizidine alkaloids and transfer into animal organs. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
4.PMID: 27759300 (1993) — Effects of Vegetation Disturbances on Insect Biological Control of Tansy Ragwort, Senecio Jacobaea. · Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America
5.PMID: 567951

Senecio jacobaea

Sources et citations

Calculer une dose sûre de Senecio jacobaea