⚠ Active warning — SupplementIndex Safety Review: Deaths from yellow oleander adulteration.
📰Read the full Tejocote Root evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ HIGH RISK — see overview [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this substance is not a dietary nutrient and should not be consumed as food.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Tejocote root products are KILLING PEOPLE through contamination with yellow oleander (cardiac glycoside). Multiple FDA warnings, poison control cases, and deaths. The cardiac glycosides (thevetin A/B) cause digitalis-like toxicity: bradycardia, heart block, hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest. This is not a 'side effect' — it is POISONING from plant misidentification or deliberate substitution. ALL commercially available tejocote root weight-loss products should be considered potentially contaminated until proven otherwise [1].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
ABSOLUTELY CONTRAINDICATED — cardiac glycoside poisoning risk [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Not recommended [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: See overview [1].
💊 With food: See overview [1].
🚫 Avoid: See overview for contraindications [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Various', 'see overview', 'See overview for forms and risks [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Key safety point ▼
Tejocote root products are KILLING PEOPLE through contamination with yellow oleander (cardiac glycoside). Multiple FDA warnings, poison control cases, and deaths. The cardiac glycosides (thevetin A/B) cause digitalis-like toxicity: bradycardia, heart block, hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest. This is not a 'side effect' — it is POISONING from plant misidentification or deliberate substitution. ALL commercially available tejocote root weight-loss products should be considered potentially contaminated until proven otherwise [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
See overview [1]. HIGH
Moderate
See overview [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
See overview [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Absolute contraindications
✕ Should not be used — products are frequently adulterated/substituted with toxic yellow oleander (a cardiac glycoside) causing fatal arrhythmia
✕ Any cardiac condition or digoxin therapy
Relative
⚠ Electrolyte abnormalities amplify cardiac-glycoside toxicity
🚩 Red flags
● HIGH RISK — see overview for critical safety alerts [1]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Digoxin Major
Mechanism: If contaminated with oleander: additive cardiac glycoside toxicity — FATAL [1].
7 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Tejocote Root — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 31]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tejocote-root/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Tejocote Root — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tejocote-root/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: March 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Tejocote Root — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tejocote-root/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG