Botanical atlas

Tanghin Poison Tree

Tanghinia venenifera

Tanghinia venenifera, now more often classified as Cerbera tanghin, is a tree with a somber place in Malagasy history rather than a healing one. Its seed kernel was the source of the tangena, a poison used for centuries in Madagascar's judicial trials by ordeal, in which an accused person was made to swallow a preparation of the ground kernel to test their guilt. The practice reached its most severe use under Queen Ranavalona I in the nineteenth century, when thousands are believed to have died from it, and it was formally outlawed later that century. Outside of that grim chapter, the tree has occasionally been noted by Malagasy communities for its fragrant flowers and as a boundary or shade tree, but it carries no tradition of use as a food, tonic, or remedy.

Safety.

Tanghinia venenifera (Cerbera tanghin) is highly toxic and must never be ingested in any form. Every part of the plant contains potent cardiac glycosides (cardenolides such as tanghinin and cerberin), with the seed kernel being especially concentrated and historically used as a fatal poison. Ingestion can cause severe nausea, vomiting, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, and death, and there is no traditional or established safe dose. The plant is particularly dangerous for children, pets, and livestock, and even handling the sap or seeds warrants gloves and hand washing afterward. It has no history of use as a food, tea, or remedy, and should not be substituted into any herbal preparation. If exposure or ingestion is suspected, contact emergency services or a poison control center immediately, and always consult a qualified medical or toxicology professional rather than attempting any home treatment.