[Orienting toxicologic studies in Wistar rats for the evaluation of knotgrass--(Polygonum convolvulus)--seed]

Black bindweed seed (Polygonum convolvulus) from the 1987 harvest was tested for possible toxicity in a 38-day range-finding test with Wistar rats which received feed rations on the basis of VDT-1 standard feedstuff and components of 5 or 20%. Histological liver findings as well as parameters recorded from laboratory diagnosis (plasma activities of ALAT, ASAT, and gamma GT as well as total protein and albumin levels in plasma) were indicative of incipient impairment of liver metabolism. More detailed and comprehensive chemico-analytical investigations are recommended, with due consideration of the unity between high-value primary components, on the one hand, and possibly toxic secondary constituent substances, on the other.