Intoxication in cattle, chicks and hamsters from seed of the palo santo tree (Bulnesia sarmientii)

A case of intoxication in cattle in Paraguay from seed of the palo santo tree is discussed. Visible toxic signs and lesions observed at necropsy are described. The seed contained 3.5 per cent or more crude saponin. Laboratory studies established that aqueous extracts and crude saponin from the seeds were toxic to one-week-old chicks and adult hamsters.