Tomorrow (29thJuly) is World Tiger Day. I think tigers are splendid, but I am not a zoologist so am honouring tigers in name by writing about the tiger lily, Lilium lancifolium(aka L. tigrinum). It is native to the Far East, and called Bai he (百合) in Traditional Chinese Medicine(#TCM) where it is used to treat coughs, restlessness and insomnia.
Lilium species grow widely across the world and their bulbs are used in many cultures as food and medicine. That is for humans, but perhaps surprisingly lilies are highly toxic to cats, causing sometimes-lethal kidney failure (Fitzgerald, 2010). Cat owners are advised to get veterinary help at the slightest suspicion that their pet so much as licks a lily leaf. The danger is from the TRUE lilies (Lilium genus in the Liliales order) and does not apply to daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)and spider-lilies (Hymenocallis spp.) which despite the names are both very distant cousins in the Asparagales order. Cat owners should pick their floral decorations appropriately!
Lilies, like many plants contain a useful assortment of pharmacologically active phytochemicals. Wang et al (2019) have documented dozens of saponins, sterols, alkaloids and polysaccharides and other phytochemicals of interest, citing studies that illustrate their pharmacological effects against tumors, diabetes, inflammation, fatigue, depression and other ailments.
Tang et al (2022) comprehensively reviewed use of lilies in many cosmetics applications, including sunscreens, facial cleansers and masks, conditioners. Their benefits are claimed to includeetc. to provide including antiaging, radiation protective, whitening and moisturizingeffects and to treat acne, promote freckle removal, and support hairregeneration.
I have not been able to find a source that identifies the lily toxin that is so lethal to cats, nor to confirm that tigers share the vulnerability. My advice to zookeepers – no lilies in the tiger enclosures, not even tigerlilies.
Further reading
• Wikipedia (2023).Lilium. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lilium&oldid=1163526802
• Fitzgerald KT (2010).Lily toxicity in the cat. Topics in companion animal medicine, 25(4),213–217. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2010.09.006
• Wang P et al (2019). A critical review on chemicalconstituents and pharmacological effects of Lilium. Food Science and Human Wellness, 8(4), 330-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2019.09.001
• Tang Yet al (2022). Potential Applications of Lilium Plants in Cosmetics: A Comprehensive Review Based on Research Papers and Patents. Antioxidants(Basel),11(8), 1458. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11081458
