plant-toxicology
Plant toxicology examines the toxic compounds produced by plants, their chemical nature, biosynthetic pathways, and the physiological effects they have on other organisms. Understanding these substances is essential in plant science for elucidating defense mechanisms against herbivores and pathogens, as well as for investigating how plants interact with their ecosystems. Research in this field also informs applications in agriculture, pharmacology, and environmental safety.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Both red maple and Freeman maple leaves are toxic to horses, but Freeman maple — a popular landscaping hybrid — caused roughly 65% more blood cell damage in lab tests than red maple. Horse owners and property managers near pastures should treat Freeman maple as an equal or greater hazard than red maple.
Freeman maple leaf extracts produced 64% more methemoglobin and 67% more hemolysis than red maple extracts in horse blood cell tests (n=120 horses).
Barn location (site) was the largest single factor explaining differences in blood cell oxidation between individual horses, outweighing age, breed, and body condition.
Regression models explained 22–89% of variation, with age and time of sample collection as minor additional contributors for red maple, while only barn site remained significant for Freeman maple.
