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Helleborin produces excitement and restlessness, followed by paralysis of the lower extremities or whole body, quickened respiration, swelling and injection of the mucous membranes, dilatation of the pupil, and, as with hellebore�n, salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea.

H. niger, orientalis, viridis, foetidus, and several other species of hellebore contain the glucosides helleborin, C36H42O6, and hellebore�n, C23H20O15, the former yielding glucose and helleboresin, C30H38O4, and the latter glucose and a violet-coloured substance helleboretin, C14H20O3.

Helleborin is most abundant in H. viridis.

Both helleborin and hellebore�n act poisonously on animals, but their decomposition-products helleboresin and helleboretin seem to be devoid of any injurious qualities.

This root contains a chemical glucoside—"helleborin," which, if given in full doses, stimulates the kidneys to such an excess that their function becomes temporarily paralyzed.