Toxicological investigations on Astragalus hamosus and Astragalus sesameus

Abstract

Astragalus hamosus L. and Astragalus sesameus L. were examined for the presence and type of aliphatic nitro compounds and for their toxicity to 1 -week-old chicks. A. hamosus leaves assayed 10 to 11 mg of NO2 g-1 in compounds that yielded 3-nitropropionic acid upon hydrolysis. Water extracts of A. hamosus leaves were toxic to chicks at the equivalent of 3 g of dried plant per chick, and lethal at 6 to 8 g. A. sesameus did not contain nitro compounds and was non-toxic to chicks.