Detection of monofluoroacetate in Palicourea and Amorimia species.
Numerous plant species worldwide including Palicourea marcgravii and Tanaecium bilabiatum in Brazil cause sudden death and are known to contain monofluoroacetate (MFA). Other species in Brazil including some species traditionally assigned to Mascagnia but now properly called Amorimia species and other Palicourea species are reported to cause sudden death in livestock and are suspected to contain MFA due to the similarity of clinical signs. In this study, an HPLC-APCI-MS method to detect and quantify MFA was developed and was used to investigate plant material from field collections and/or herbarium specimens of Mascagnia, Amorimia, and Palicourea species suspected of causing sudden death. MFA was detected in Amorimia amazonica, Amorimia camporum, Amorimia exotropica, Amorimia pubiflora, Amorimia rigida, and Amorimia septentrionalis as well as Palicourea aeneofusca. MFA concentrations differ greatly between Palicourea species and Amorimia species, which may explain the incidence of poisoning and the amount of plant material required to cause sudden death between these taxa.
Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1150 E. 1400 N., Logan, UT 84341, USA. stephen.lee@ars.usda.gov
Stephen T
ST
Lee
Daniel
D
Cook
Franklin
F
Riet-Correa
James A
JA
Pfister
William R
WR
Anderson
Flavia G
FG
Lima
Dale R
DR
Gardner
D001938:Brazil; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000032:analysis*; D029581:Malpighiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010947:Plants, Toxic / Q000737:chemistry*; D019666:Rubiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity
D005463:Fluoroacetates; C014815:fluoroacetic acid