The safety of edible wild plants: Fuller discussion may be needed

A new food culture based on edible wild plants is expanding in Western countries, often encouraged by findings published in scientific journals, which usually highlight the good nutritional qualities of such plants. However, these findings are not always discussed from the toxicological standpoint. Among wild greens, a notable case is Bryonia dioica (bryony, English mandrake), which has been reported to be healthy by many researchers; however, the consumption of this species is restricted by law because of reported cases of poisoning after consumption. In this commentary, this subject is discussed on the basis of some species reported as edible in several recent publications, despite their toxicity.