Alkaloids
All Erythrina species, including Erythrina poeppigiana, contain potentially toxic alkaloids in their seeds and foliage. On small animals, these alkaloids have effects similar to that of curare poisoning, i.e. muscular paralysis that may cause death by respiratory failure (Paterson, 1994). It has been reported that some Erythrina spp. can cause sterility and even death in rabbits (Martin, 1984 cited by Paterson, 1994). However, this toxicity has not been demonstrated in larger domestic animals (Paterson, 1994), and, in the case of Erythrina poeppigiana, its consumption by cattle or goats did not affect their health (Orwa et al., 2009). Traces of β-erythroidine were detected in the milk of goat fed with leaves of Erythrina berteroana or Erythrina poeppigiana, which raised the question of whether the milk was suitable for human consumption (Soto-Hernandez et al., 1993).
Lectins
Erythrina spp. seeds and leaves contain lectins that have a selective hemagglutinating effect on erythrocytes, but this effect depend on the Erythrina species and on the mammal species. For instance, lectins from Erythrina poeppigiana seeds agglutinated human red cells but not red cells from rabbits, goats and horses, while lectins from Erythrina steyermarkii seeds affected red cells from humans and rabbits (Quesada et al., 1998).
Polyphenols
Erythrina spp. leaves are generally lower in soluble polyphenolic compounds than other tropical legumes, which is a positive characteristic for livestock feeding (Paterson, 1994).