[1] Daphne mezereum (sometimes called mezereon) is a plant native to Europe and western Asia and is a member of the family Thymelaeaceae.

The plants have different bioactive metabolites and pharmacological active molecules like anti-inflammatory, anti-cruor effects, reduction of blood coagulation, and the increase of uric acid excretion.

However, the plant's berries and twigs contain daphnin, mezerein (damages the kidneys), and daphne toxin (heavy fevers and even causing death), which are toxic to humans and some animals.

[citation needed] Daphnetin is a dihydroxy coumarin and can undergo enzymatic glycosylation to yield 7-O-glucoside also called daphnin.

[4] Publications show different approaches for isolating daphnin, most of which focus on making an extract of Daphne mezereum followed by affinity separation.

Extraction is done by using absolute ethanol, methanol, and chloroform in a mixture at different concentrations, and are often used as eluting systems for the separation procedure on silica gel columns and as mobile phases for the TLCs.

[7] Despite the toxic effects of species in the Daphne genus, different useful bioactive and phytochemicals compounds are present in the berries.

[9] Daphne mezereum is toxic because of the compounds daphnin, mezerein, and daphnetoxin which are partially present in the fruits and the twigs.

When interacting with these parts of the plant gastrointestinal effects can occur which eventually can cause an experience of delirium, seizures, and death.

Older children mostly experience vomiting when the fruits are taken orally, only the reaction of tympanitic distension of the abdomen will take place immediately.

[17] Leaves of Daphne odora have highly bioactive compounds which can be isolated, which then can be used to make medicine to relieve headache and to lower fever.

[18] Its herbs and leaves have been reported to be used as folk medicine against rheumatism and/or edema and to treat lumbago (respectively) in the Taurus Mountains, South Turkey.

[21] Daphnetin has been reported to be a strong sensitizer, which means that this compound and its glycosidic derivatives (e.g. daphnin) can be a cause of allergic reactions.