ABSTRACT
Fresh, green maple leaves do not appear to be toxic. The toxin responsible for the oxidation of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells has not been fully determined. However, extracts obtained from various maples including (A. rubrum, A. saccharum, A. saccharinum) when incubated with horse red blood cells increased the formation of methemoglobin.5
The ‘Acer fraction’ causing methemoglobinemia contained gallic acid, and other oxidants.5 Other compounds such as phenols, amines and nitro-compounds produce methemoglobinemia and may also be present in maple leaves.6
