Sanguinaria canadensis, bloodroot, is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America. It is the only species in the genus Sanguinaria, included in the poppy family Papaveraceae, and is most closely related to Eomecon of eastern Asia.

Sanguinaria canadensis is sometimes known as Canada puccoon, bloodwort, redroot, red puccoon, and black paste. Products made from sanguinaria extracts, such as black salve, are escharotic and can cause permanent disfiguring scarring. The leaves and flowers sprout from a reddish rhizome with bright orange to red sap. The color of the sap is the reason for the genus name Sanguinaria, from Latin "bloody".<!-- FNA mentions sanguis "blood", the word from which sanguinaria comes. --> The rhizomes grow longer each year, and branch to form colonies. Plants start to bloom before the foliage unfolds in early spring. After blooming, the leaves unfurl to their full size. Plants go dormant in mid to late summer, later than some other spring ephemerals.

The flowers bloom from March to May depending on the region and climate. They have 8–12 delicate white petals, many yellow stamens, and two sepals below the petals, which fall off after the flowers open. Each flower stem is clasped by a leaf as it emerges from the ground. The flowers open when they are in sunlight and close at night. They are pollinated by small bees and flies. Seeds develop in green pods long, and ripen before the foliage goes dormant. The seeds are round and black to orange-red when ripe, and have white elaiosomes, which are eaten by ants. The Latin specific epithet canadensis means of Canada.

The bitter and toxic leaves and rhizomes are not often eaten by mammalian herbivores.

Phytochemicals

Sanguinaria root is rich in isoquinoline alkaloids, mainly sanguinarine and chelerythrine. Salves, most notably black salve, derived from bloodroot do not remove tumors. Microscopic tumor deposits may remain after visible tumor tissue is burned away, and case reports have shown that in such instances tumor has recurred and/or metastasized.

Internal use is not recommended. An overdose of bloodroot extract can cause vomiting and loss of consciousness. A number of species in the Papaveraceae and Ranunculaceae, as well as plants in the genus Colchicum (family Colchicaceae) and genus Chondrodendron (family Menispermaceae), also produce such benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Plant geneticists have identified and sequenced genes which encode the enzymes required for this production. One enzyme involved is N-methylcoclaurine 3'-monooxygenase, which produces (S)-3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine and mendococlaurine from (S)-N-methylcoclaurine.

Uses

Traditional medicine

Bloodroot was used historically by Native Americans for curative properties as an emetic, respiratory aid, and other treatments.

Dietary supplement and warnings

Bloodroot extracts have also been promoted by some dietary supplement companies as a treatment or cure for cancer, Oral use of products containing bloodroot are strongly associated with the development of oral leukoplakia, which is a premalignant lesion that may develop into oral cancer, although one review disputed this finding. Viadent, a dental product containing bloodroot, was withdrawn from the North American market due to concerns about its potential to cause cancer. A break in the surface of the plant, especially the roots, reveals a reddish sap which can be used as a dye.

  • Flora of North America: Distribution map
  • Floridanature.org: Bloodroot pictures and information