The toxicity of Burttia prunoides in rats and goats

Studies of the toxicity of the leaves and seeds of the plant Burttia prunoides from Singida district of Tanzania were conducted in rats and goats. One group of rats was drenched with a decoction of powdered seeds or leaves while the other group was fed rations containing different proportions of powdered seeds or leaves. The goats were drenched with aqueous suspensions of powdered seeds or leaves. All animals were observed for behavioral changes and clinical signs. Leaves were not toxic to the rats or the goats. In rats the seeds induced a severe acute central nervous system (CNS) disorder and death and also a subacute syndrome characterized by emaciation and milder CNS signs. In goats the seeds induced a severe CNS disorder where unlike the rats the animals did recover. Postmortem findings in the rats included hemorrhage and inflammation of the glandular stomach and edema and congestion of the lungs, brain and mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. The kidneys were congested and showed complete nephrosis of the proximal tubular epithelium. Livers were congested and had focal areas of necrosis. The findings in this study resemble those obtained in calves and sheep using the same plant.