Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:24:53.553Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Distribution of Organic Nitrites in Astragalus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

M. Coburn Williams
Affiliation:
Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Logan, UT 84322
Robert Parker
Affiliation:
Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Logan, UT 84322

Abstract

Leaf samples from Utah State University herbarium specimens of Astragalus were analyzed qualitatively for organic nitrites. Of 324 species and varieties examined, 69 (21%) were positive for nitrites. Excluding varieties, 251 species were examined, of which 56 (22%) contained nitrites. Organic nitrites were found to be stable in dried specimens for decades. Both recently collected and 80- to 90-year-old specimens of the same species or variety tested positive for organic nitrites. Astragalus species known to cause the loco syndrome in livestock did not contain nitrites. Only one seleniferous species, A. toanus Jones, synthesized moderate amounts of organic nitrites.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1974 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Barneby, R.C. 1964. Atlas of North American Astragalus . Memoirs of the New York Bot. Garden Vol. 13. 1188 pp.Google Scholar
2. Case, A.A. 1957. Some aspects of nitrate intoxication in livestock. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 130:323329.Google Scholar
3. Cooke, A.R. 1955. The toxic constituent in Indigofera endecaphylla . Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 55:114120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Garner, R.J. 1957. Veterinary Toxicology. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London. 415 pp.Google Scholar
5. Kingsbury, J.M. 1964. Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 626 pp.Google Scholar
6. Marsh, C.D. and Clawson, A.B. 1920. Astragalus tetrapterus, a new poisonous plant of Utah and Nevada. USDA Cir. 81. 7 pp.Google Scholar
7. Mathews, F.P. 1940. The toxicity of red-stemmed peavine (Astragalus emoryanus) for cattle, sheep and goats. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 97:125134.Google Scholar
8. Olson, O.E. and Moxon, A.L. 1942. Nitrate reduction in relation to oat hay poisoning. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 100:403406.Google Scholar
9. Riggs, C.W. 1945. Nitrite poisoning from ingestion of plants high in nitrate. Am. J. Vet. Res. 6:194197.Google Scholar
10. Sperry, O.E., Dollahite, J.W., Hoffman, G.O., and Camp, B.J. 1964. Texas plants poisonous to livestock. Texas Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 1028. 59 pp.Google Scholar
11. Stermitz, F.R., Lowry, W.T., Norris, F.A., Buckeridge, F.A., and Williams, M.C. 1972. Aliphatic nitro compounds from Astragalus species. Phytochemistry. 11:11171124.Google Scholar
12. Williams, M.C. and Binns, W. 1967. Toxicity of Astragalus miser Dougl., var. oblongifolius (Rydb.) Cronq. Weeds 15:359362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Williams, M.C., Norris, F.A., and Van Kampen, K.R. 1970. Metabolism of miserotoxin to 3-nitro-1-propanol in bovine and ovine ruminal fluids. Am. J. Vet. Res. 31:259262.Google Scholar
14. Williams, M.C., Van Kampen, K.R., and Norris, F.A. 1969. Timber milkvetch poisoning in chickens, rabbits, and cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res. 30:21852190.Google ScholarPubMed