Poisoning in goats by Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart.: biological and cytotoxic effects

Spontaneous cases of poisoning by Aspidosperma pyrifolium, the toxicity to rats and in vitro cytotoxicity were evaluated. On all spontaneous cases studied, ingestion of the plant and cases of abortion occurred exclusively in goats. The majority of the cases of abortion occurred during the early dry season and the early rainy season, and experienced goats were less likely to be affected than naïve goats. Pregnant Wistar rats dosed with A. pyrifolium extract on the 15th gestational day or from the 15th to the 17th gestational day presented reduction of fetal weight and strong evidence of maternal toxicity was found. Female rats injected A. pyrifolium extract intraperitoneally presented motor disturbances and death; male rats were more resistant than females. Xylazine, atropine and diazepam administration did not prevent the effects of toxicity. Evaluation of the osmotic fragility of red blood cells was performed with the plant extract at different concentrations. In addition, 1-day-old larvae of Artemia salina were incubated with different concentrations of the extract. It was found that the extract of A. pyrifolium promoted hemolysis and was lethal to A. salina. These in vivo and in vitro assays may be useful as adjunct tests for further studies with this plant.