EMBRYOTOXIC EFFECTS OF PINE NEEDLES AND PINE NEEDLE EXTRACTS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 69  (2) , 169-175
Abstract
A heat stable toxin present in needles of ponderosa pine [Pinus ponderosa] was soluble in methanol, ethanol, chloroform, hexanes and 1-butanol. The embryotoxic effects of fresh green pine needles and a chloroform/methanol extract were determined by measuring embryo resorption in pregnant mice. Autoclaving the needles and extract for 1 h prior to feeding enhanced the embryoresorptive effect by 28% and 32%, respectively. The embryo resorptive dose (ERD50) of heat stable toxin was 8.95 g/mouse for fresh green pine needles and 6.47 g/mouse for autoclaved green pine needles. Feeding of the toxin resulted in significant wt loss in adult mice. Applications to reproductive failure in cattle are discussed.