Further studies on the presence, qualities and effects of the toxic principles from Narthecium ossifragum plants.

摘要

A 3-month-old Norwegian Red calf was dosed over one day with an aqueous extract from 3.0 kg (wet weight) of N. ossifragum and another was dosed on the same day with the insoluble plant residue. The concentrations of serum creatinine and magnesium only increased in the calf dosed with the aqueous extract, while the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase only increased in the serum of the calf dosed with the plant residue. It was concluded that the nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic principles of the plant were water-soluble and water-insoluble compounds, respectively. A 4-month-old Norwegian Red calf was dosed with 30 g (wet weight) N. ossifragum flower stems/kg body weight for one day and another was dosed with 30 g (wet weight) N. ossifragum leaves/kg bodyweight on the same day. The serum creatinine and urea concentrations and serum glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities increased in the calf dosed with the flower stems. There was only a slight, temporary increase in the serum creatinine concentration in the calf dosed with the leaves. Seven days later, following killing and PM examination, the kidneys of the calf dosed with the flower stems had severe tubular necrosis and degeneration. It is suggested that both the toxic principles are present in the flower stems of N. ossifragum. The serum creatinine concentration was significantly increased in a non-ruminating, 14-day-old Norwegian Red calf dosed with an aqueous extract from 32 g (wet weight) N.ossifragum/kg body weight for one day, showing the intrinsic nephrotoxicity of the plant.