Which plant is a known nephrotoxin within the cholecalciferol toxicosis group and is commonly associated with oak trees?

• A. night-blooming jessamine (cestrum)
• B. redroot pigweed (amaranthus)
• C. oak (quercus)
• D. lilies (lilium)

Answer: (C)

Oak is a classic nephrotoxin because tannins in acorns and oak leaves can cause acute kidney injury in animals that ingest them. In toxicology discussions that involve kidney damage, oak is repeatedly highlighted as a plant toxin with strong nephrotoxic potential, and it is commonly encountered in environments with oak trees. While cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) toxicosis also damages the kidneys through hypercalcemia and calcification, oak stands out as the plant most consistently associated with renal injury in this context. The other plants listed have toxic profiles, but they are not as closely linked to nephrotoxicity from oak-associated exposure.