Comparative toxicity of Croton macrostachys, Jatropha curcas and Piper abyssinica seeds in Nubian goats

Abstract

The comparative toxicity of Croton macrostachys, Jatropha curcas and Piper abyssinica seeds was described in Nubian goat kids allotted as untreated controls, C. macrostachys-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg per day, J. curcas-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg per day and P. abyssinica-treated at 1 or 0.25 g/kg per day. Both oral dose levels of C. macrostachys and J. curcas seeds were lethal for kids between days 7 and 21, and caused bloody diarrhea, dyspnea, dehydration, loss in condition, paresis of the hind limbs and recumbency before death. Lesions in the affected animals included widespread hemorrhages and congestion, enterohepatonephrotoxicity, pulmonary hemorrhage, emphysema and cyanosis, tracheal froths, ascites and hydropericardium. These lesions were accompanied by increases in the activity of serum AST, in the concentration of urea, decreases in total protein and albumin, anemia and leukopenia. The oral dose of 1 g/kg per day for 30 days or 0.25 g/kg per day for 50 days of P. abyssinica seeds was not lethal and caused limited and less pronounced vascular changes and hepatonephropathy.