Abstract
Abstract This chapter (i) describes spontaneous cases of poisoning by Aspidosperma pyrifolium; (ii) characterizes the toxicity of this plant in rats; and (iii) investigates the cytotoxicity by in vitro tests. Naturally occurring cases of poisoning were observed on 6 farms in the region of the cities of Mossoró and Angico, in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. On all the evaluated farms, the ingestion of the plant and the cases of abortion occurred exclusively in goats and did not affect sheep. The majority of the abortions occurred early in the dry season and early in the rainy season. In the in vivo assays, the administration of Aspidosperma pyrifolium to pregnant rats promoted reduction of fetal weight. In the in vitro tests, Aspidosperma pyrifolium was found lethal to Artemia salina, which confirms its cytotoxicity.
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