I just recently discovered a plant in my back yard called pokeweed. many may know what it is, but for those who dont, it looks like this:
The plant is considered to be poisonous by many, however in the south there are festivals celebrating it. you may have heard of poke salad. anyway, i have been doing a little research about this plant, and it seems it may be a very valuable plant to have around. It is being researched for possible preventative use to stop HIV, and even for the treatment of some cancers. I found this online about its cancer uses:
New research has revealed that a possible CURE for Childhood Leukemia called (B43-PAP) is found in the common Pokeweed. Anti-B43-pokeweed antiviral protein, B43-PAP, PAP is a pokeweed toxin. The B43 carries the weapon--the PAP--to the leukemia cells. It has been touted as a smart weapon. In one study 15 out of 18 children who had participated had attained remission. The following is part of a repot from Parker Hughes Institute: The two parts of this drug are the B43 antibody (or anti-CD19) and the pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) immunotoxin, a natural product in the pokeweed plant. B43 is designed to recognize specific B-cell leukemia cells just as natural antibodies attack and recognize germs. When the antibody finds a leukemia cell, it attaches and B43 delivers the other part of the drug, PAP. Inside the cell, PAP is released by the antibody and inactivates the ribosomes that make the proteins the cell needs to survive. With the cell unable to produce proteins, the specific leukemia cell is killed. More than 100 patients have been treated with B43-PAP and shown only minimal side effects.
Poke Herb, Pokeweed, Poke Berries, Phytolacca americana, uses, Poke Salet
anyway, while on another forum a guy told me that the berries, if you eat one for every 50 pounds of body weight, can also be used for pain management for headaches. topical uses of the plant have been used since before the white man showed up on North America. I found it interesting, and will allow my pokeweed to continue growing in my backyard.
oh yeah, and the berries can be used as a dye. their are letters written during the civil war by soldiers who used poke berries for ink. pretty cool, i think.

The plant is considered to be poisonous by many, however in the south there are festivals celebrating it. you may have heard of poke salad. anyway, i have been doing a little research about this plant, and it seems it may be a very valuable plant to have around. It is being researched for possible preventative use to stop HIV, and even for the treatment of some cancers. I found this online about its cancer uses:
New research has revealed that a possible CURE for Childhood Leukemia called (B43-PAP) is found in the common Pokeweed. Anti-B43-pokeweed antiviral protein, B43-PAP, PAP is a pokeweed toxin. The B43 carries the weapon--the PAP--to the leukemia cells. It has been touted as a smart weapon. In one study 15 out of 18 children who had participated had attained remission. The following is part of a repot from Parker Hughes Institute: The two parts of this drug are the B43 antibody (or anti-CD19) and the pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) immunotoxin, a natural product in the pokeweed plant. B43 is designed to recognize specific B-cell leukemia cells just as natural antibodies attack and recognize germs. When the antibody finds a leukemia cell, it attaches and B43 delivers the other part of the drug, PAP. Inside the cell, PAP is released by the antibody and inactivates the ribosomes that make the proteins the cell needs to survive. With the cell unable to produce proteins, the specific leukemia cell is killed. More than 100 patients have been treated with B43-PAP and shown only minimal side effects.
Poke Herb, Pokeweed, Poke Berries, Phytolacca americana, uses, Poke Salet
anyway, while on another forum a guy told me that the berries, if you eat one for every 50 pounds of body weight, can also be used for pain management for headaches. topical uses of the plant have been used since before the white man showed up on North America. I found it interesting, and will allow my pokeweed to continue growing in my backyard.
oh yeah, and the berries can be used as a dye. their are letters written during the civil war by soldiers who used poke berries for ink. pretty cool, i think.