title: Evaluation of drying methods and toxicity of rayless goldenrod ( Isocoma pluriflora ) and white snakeroot ( Ageratina altissima ) in goats.
abstract: White snakeroot and rayless goldenrod cause "trembles" and "milk sickness" in livestock and humans, respectively. The toxin in white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod was identified in 1927 and 1930, respectively, as tremetol. It was reported that the toxin in white snakeroot disappears as it is dried and that completely dried plants were incapable of producing trembles or milk sickness. Conversely, it has been reported that the rayless goldenrod toxin was not destroyed by drying and that the plant is toxic either fresh or dry. In this study the concentrations of tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and structurally similar compounds were determined in white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod before and after various drying conditions. Tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and structurally similar compounds in rayless goldenrod and white snakeroot are most stable upon freeze-drying, followed by air-drying, and least stable upon oven-drying (60 °C). Also demonstrated is that tremetone is stable and that dried white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod are capable of inducing toxicosis in livestock.
authors.affiliation: Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1150 East 1400 North, Logan, Utah 84341, USA. stephen.lee@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: T Zane
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Bryan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Stegelmeier
mesh_terms: D036603:Ageratina / Q000737:chemistry*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006041:Goats; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014118:Toxins, Biological