About Karwinskia humboldtiana (Roem. & Schult.) Zucc.
Karwinskia humboldtiana has common names including coyotillo, cacachila, and Humboldt coyotillo. This species is a flowering shrub or small tree belonging to the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. It is native to southern and western Texas in the United States, and to most of Mexico. The plant's seeds and leaves contain the quinones eleutherin and 7-methoxyeleutherin; its fruits contain chrysophanol and β-amyrin, and all of these compounds are toxic to humans and livestock. These toxins typically cause ascending paralysis, which is often followed by death. Symptoms do not appear immediately after consumption, typically taking days or even weeks to develop. The symptoms of this poisoning are similar to the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
