Failure to induce toxicity in lambs by administering saponins from Narthecium ossifragum.

It has been suggested that saponins produced by Narthecium ossifragum (Bog asphodel) may be the direct cause of the toxicity leading to the hepatogenous photosensitivity disease alveld seen in Norwegian lambs. Lambs fed large quantities of freeze-dried N. ossifragum did not develop alveld. Chemical investigations on the freeze-dried material and fresh N. ossifragum showed no difference in their saponin content. These results indicate that alveld is not caused solely by the saponins produced by N. ossifragum.