title: Studies in regard to the classification and putative toxicity of Fridericia japurensis (Arrabidaea japurensis) in Brazil.
abstract: Numerous plant species worldwide including Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) and Tanaecium bilabiatum (Bignoniaceae) in Brazil cause acute cardiac failure (sudden death) and are known to contain monofluoroacetate (MFA). Other Bignoniaceae species including Fridericia japurensis (Arrabidaea japurensis) are reported to cause sudden death in livestock in the Brazilian state of Roraima and are suspected to contain MFA due to the similarity of clinical signs. In this study herbarium specimens of Fridericia japurensis and field collections suspected to be F. japurensis were analyzed for MFA, and plant material from the field collections was dosed to rabbits. No MFA was detected in the herbarium specimens authoritatively identified as F. japurensis; however, MFA was detected in the field collections, which were identified as T. bilabiatum. Rabbits dosed orally with T. bilabiatum died acutely. Voucher toxic specimens initially described as F. japurensis were incorrectly identified, and the correct botanical name for this plant is T. bilabiatum (Arrabidaea bilabiata). Based on this study we conclude that there are no data to support the toxicity of F. japurensis and that the plant previously reported under this name as causing acute cardiac failure in cattle in Roraima is T. bilabiatum. This research highlights the importance of voucher specimens as part of any toxic plant investigation and corrects the literature regarding these toxic plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil.
authors.forename: Everton F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, Paraíba, CEP 58700-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane Maria T
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1150 E. 1400 N., Logan, UT 84341, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1150 E. 1400 N., Logan, UT 84341, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, 2900 Southern Blv., Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaehler
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso Do Sul 79070-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santos-Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, Paraíba, CEP 58700-000, Brazil; National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia, Casilla de Correo 39173, CP 70.000, Uruguay. Electronic address: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riet-Correa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029402:Bignoniaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D001938:Brazil; D002417:Cattle; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D010947:Plants, Toxic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D005463:Fluoroacetates; C014815:fluoroacetic acid
keywords: Bignoniaceae; Fridericia; Monofluoroacetate; Poisonous plants; Sudden death