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The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.

Dissertation (MSc (Paraclinical Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007.

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Other Authors: Prozesky, Leon
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Prozesky, Leon
author_browse Prozesky, Leon
author_facet Prozesky, Leon
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © University of Preroria 20
description Dissertation (MSc (Paraclinical Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24566
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:42.843Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
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publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24566 The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC. Prozesky, Leon Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus) alberto.dimande@yahoo.es Dimande, Alberto Francisco Paulo Pyrrolizidine alkaloids Senecio inaequidens Toxicity UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Paraclinical Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. This study was designed to confirm the toxicity of a plant implicated in an outbreak in Frankfort, Free State Province, Republic of South Africa. Cows died acutely after being introduced into a camp, where an abundant, green shrublet was noted to be heavily grazed. The plant was subsequently identified as Senecio inaequidens DC. (Asteraceae) by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Extraction and chemical analyses for pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA's) in Senecio inaequidens revealed the presence of four different compounds, namely retrorsine and senecionine (known to be hepatotoxic) and two unidentified compounds. The total alkaloid content (free bases plus N-oxides) in the dried, milled S. inaequidens plant material was 0.18%. Four (4) male Sprague Dawley rats, aged 8-9 weeks were dosed per os. Each rat received a different dose; ranging from 0.049 mg/g b.w. to 0.25 mg/g b.w.; of the crude Senecio inaequidens extract. No clinical signs were observed in the rat receiving the lowest dose. Rats receiving higher doses showed depression, an unsteady gait, pilo-erection and jaundice, which was particularly noticeable in the ears. Clinical chemistry evaluation revealed an increase in the activities of ALP, AST (except Rat 1) and GGT in all animals. Total serum bilirubin, creatinine and urea concentrations were also elevated. All rats had low serum globulin concentrations with an A/G ratio above 1.88 (except Rat 1). Post mortem examination of the rats revealed marked hepatic lesions. Histopathological changes were characterized by necrosis (variable in extent) of the centrilobular and midzonal hepatocytes, sparing the portal hepatocytes, with extensive haemorrhage and congestion. Proliferation of the bile ducts, fibrosis and oedema was also present. Ultrastructural changes in affected rats were characterized by margination of chromatin, the presence of numerous autolysosomes in necrotic hepatocytes, intramitochondrial woolly inclusions and changes in the endoplasmic reticulum. A sheep was also dosed in an attempt to reproduce the intoxication. The sheep did not exhibit clinical signs, clinical chemistry aberrations or macroscopic lesions. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes, although milder, were similar to those displayed by the rats. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were extracted from the liver and kidneys of the rats and sheep. Retrorsine was also detected in the lungs, urine and bile of the sheep. Paraclinical Sciences unrestricted 2013-09-06T18:01:00Z 2008-06-30 2013-09-06T18:01:00Z 2007-11-23 2008-06-30 2008-05-12 Dissertation a 2007 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24566 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05122008-080613/ © University of Preroria 20 application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Senecio inaequidens
Toxicity
UCTD
The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title_full The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title_fullStr The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title_full_unstemmed The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title_short The toxicity of Senecio inaequidens DC.
title_sort toxicity of senecio inaequidens dc
topic Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Senecio inaequidens
Toxicity
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24566
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05122008-080613/