The effects of low levels of dietary toxic weed seeds (jimson weed, Datura stramonium and sicklepod, Cassia obtusifolia) on the relative size of rat liver and levels and function of cytochrome P-450.

Preliminary studies and previous work by other investigators have shown that jimsonweed and sicklepod seeds are very toxic. Such seeds and others are co-harvested and are often found mingling with commercial grain destined for human consumption. Low levels of these seeds were studied here to determine whether such levels would show signs of intoxication in rats by modulating growth, liver weight and relative size, cytochrome P-450 levels and function, and other relevant parameters proven to be sensitive to low levels of toxicants. Assessment of these factors showed that jimson weed does give indications of intoxication at low levels, whereas the highly toxic sicklepod does not give discernible indications.