Palicourea marcgravii intoxication in rats: effects of different fractions.

Palicourea marcgravii (Pm) is the most toxic plant in Brazil to cattle. Previous experiments showed that Pm experimental intoxication in rats is similar to that reported for cattle, and these symptoms include generalized itching, incoordination, depression, tonic-clonic seizures and death. The present study was undertaken to verify if the toxic principle of Pm responsible for seizure and death is the same that produces itching and depression. Rats that received Pm aqueous or chloroform fractions showed itching, while depression, seizures and death were associated with the aqueous fractions. These results suggest that Pm contains at least 2 active compounds, one causing itching and another one promoting depression, seizure and death.