Poke (Phytolacca americana) is a native herbaceous perennial of North America but has now become naturalized in parts of Europe and Asia. Poke is considered a weed by many but has some ornamental value as it produces red-purplish stems and striking purple-black berries.
Though poisonous to humans, Poke is an important source of food for birds, who are unaffected by its toxins.
Children are very attracted to the berries, and have been victims of poisoning.
Despite this, Poke young leaves and shoots (never roots) have a history of use as a food in Appalachia, but only after proper preparation (after much boiling and discarding of water and also pan frying).
Comparisons have been made to spinach or asparagus. “Poke Sallet” is the name of a Southern dish, which still has a regional following and is occasionally gaining interest from pop culture.
With a history of being a food consumed by previous slaves or very poor people, it is considered a historical food that people only ate because there was not much else to choose.
A natural red dye has also been traditionally obtained from the berry, Native Americans used it for painting horses, dying cloth and warpaint, and soldiers wrote home with the ink.
Poke also has historically been used in herbal medicine, and only with caution by experienced practitioners at very low doses.
Traditionally Poke has been used mainly for rheumatism, assisting the immune system or respiratory complaints. It also has folkloric use for herpes, women’s health and HIV. It was also used for topical uses as a poultice for skin conditions.
A homeopathic preparation is made with the fresh root targeting the throat, breast tissue and muscles/joints.
Poke also contains various phytochemicals with bioactive interest, including Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP), a potent ribosome-inactivating protein; the alkaloids phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin; The triterpenoid saponin esculentoside A; as well as betacyanins which act as antioxidants and pigments.
Through scientific investigation, Poke has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activities.
A study published in 2020 investigated pokeweed’s antiviral properties, finding that extracts inhibited replication of the influenza virus in vitro, likely due to its ribosome-inactivating proteins. Another study found immunomodulatory effects, with low-dose extracts enhancing macrophage activity, suggesting potential applications in immune-boosting therapies.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
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