Acute toxicity of the leaves and extracts of Dichapetalum barteri (Engl.) in mice, rabbits and goats.

Acute toxicity of the leaves and extracts of Dichapetalum barteri for mice, rabbits and goats was investigated. Consumption of 0.5 g/kg and 2.2 g/kg body weight of dried leaves was lethal to rabbits and goats, respectively, within 4 h. Plants collected in the dry season were more toxic than those collected during the wet season. Clinical signs observed were initial depression followed by restlessness, convulsions, and death. The main lesions observed were acute vasculitis and congestion of the liver, lung, kidney, spleen as well as extensive oedema and congestion of the myocardium. The water extract of the leaves was lethal to mice at 2.0 g/kg, to rabbits at 0.1 g/kg and toxic to isolated rabbit heart at 2 mg/ml of Locke's solution. Monofluoroacetate was detected in the plant material and is probably the toxic principle of D. barteri.