The danger of marsh mallow

This herb is popular with urban forages, but can be deadly to horses.

An herb that is increasingly popular among urban foragers, has been linked to fatal heart and muscle disease in horses.

Marsh mallow (Malva parviflora) is native to southern Europe, North Africa and Asia but has long been naturalized in the continental United States and Australia. Also called “cheese weed” because of the round, yellow seedpods it bears, marsh mallow is said to have a mild flavor and is used in salads and stews.

Marsh mallow plant; small white flowers on large green leaves
Marsh mallow is sought-after by urban foragers for it mild flavor, but it can sicken horses.

However, the plant is potentially dangerous to horses, a fact underscored by a recent journal report that describes the case of four horses sickened after eating large amounts of marsh mallow. The horses, which were kept on the same farm in Victoria, Australia, quickly developed muscle fasiculations, irregular heartbeats and sweating after ingesting the herb. Eventually, all died or were euthanatized.

Postmortem examinations revealed damage to heart and skeletal muscles and abnormally high serum concentrations of certain acylcarnitines, products which help convert fatty acids into energy.

Click here to test your knowledge of poisonous plants.

The researchers say these findings suggest that ingestion of marsh mallow can cause toxicosis similar to the human genetic condition known as “very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.”

Reference:Evidence for marsh mallow (Malva parviflora) toxicosis causing myocardial disease and myopathy in four horses,” Equine Veterinary Journal, June 2016

This article first appeared in EQUUS issue #468

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