Bamboo shoot – Is it edible or poisonous.

ABSTRACT

Bamboo is just another grass with an endless list of uses. Bamboo shoot contains a cyanogenic glycoside ‘amygdalin’ composed of glucose, benzaldehyde and cyanide. We present a case of a 14 year old female patient with history of consumption of bamboo shoot extract (juice) who was brought in an unconscious state and admitted to the Department of Medicine in our hospital. She was treated symptomatically with supportive therapy after conducting relevant laboratory investigations. The patient recovered consciousness after 2 days and was discharged after 10 days of admission.