title: Toxicity of non-protein amino acids to humans and domestic animals.
abstract: Non-protein amino acids are common in plants and are present in widely consumed animal feeds and human foods such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), which contains canavanine, and lentil (Lens culinaris), which contains homoarginine. Some occur in wild species that are inadvertently harvested with crop species. Some non-protein amino acids and metabolites can be toxic to humans, e.g. Lathyrus species contain a neurotoxic oxalyl-amino acid. Some potential toxins may be passed along a food chain via animal intermediates. The increased interest in herbal medicines in the Western countries will increase exposure to such compounds.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, St Michael's Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: E Arthur
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Alison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nash
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D027807:Lathyrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D027806:Lens Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids