Hearts and flowers: Bryophyllum poisoning of cattle

Abstract

Findings from natural cases and experiments with cattle emphasise that flowering plants are the most important form of Bryophyllum (Kalanchoe) spp in poisonings in Australia. The main life-threatening lesion is myocardial. The effects on the alimentary tract are less important than was believed previously. B. tubiflorum, B. daigremontianum x B. tubiflorum, B. pinnatum and B. proliferum caused 41 recorded poisoning incidents affecting 379 cattle in Queensland between 1960 and 1984. Poisoning occurred between May and October--the flowering season of these plants. Experimental B. tubiflorum poisoning and natural poisonings produced anorexia, depression, ruminal atony, diarrhoea, heart rate and rhythm abnormalities, dyspnoea and death. Increased plasma concentrations of urea, creatinine and glucose and decreased chloride were measured experimentally. Both natural and experimental cases had myocardial degeneration and necrosis with haemorrhages of the heart and alimentary tract. Cattle with severe dyspnoea had atelectasis and emphysema of the lungs. Some cattle had mild nephrosis. The median lethal doses of B. tubiflorum flowers, roots and leaf plus stem were 0.7, 2.3 and 5.0 g dry matter/kg liveweight respectively (7, 7 and 40 g wet weight/kg). Bufadienolides have been isolated recently from B. tubiflorum flowers and the syndrome is consistent with cardiac glycoside poisoning.

Bryophyllum pinnatum and Related Species Used in Anthroposophic Medicine: Constituents, Pharmacological Activities, and Clinical Efficacy

“…Thirteen bufadienolides (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), including three glycosides, have been reported from B. pinnatum, B. delagoense, B. daigremontianum, and the hybrid B. daigremontianum x tubiflorum (l " Table 1, Fig. 1), mostly in conjunction with various bioactivities such as insecticidal and cytotoxic properties [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

“…Particular attention has been paid to the bufadienolides, owing to their toxicological relevance for grazing animals [10], and their various other bioactivities. Beside these, a large number of flavonoids have been reported in B. pinnatum.…”

Activity of <i>Bryophyllum pinnatum</i> S. Kurz extracts on respiratory tract pathogenic bacteria

“…Various biological activities of B.pinnatum include works by Plangger et al, (2005), Ojewole (2005), Gwehenberger et al, (2004), Pal et al, (1991), Reppas (1995), Yemitan et al, (2005) and Mckenzie et al, (1986Mckenzie et al, ( , 1987. The antibacterial activity of the leaf juice of B. pinnatum was reported by Obaseiki-Ebor (1985).…”

Literature review on pharmacological potentials of Kalanchoe pinnata (Crassulaceae)

“…E-mail: subratapharmacy@yahoo.com. such as infections, rheumatism, and inflammation (Nayak et al, 2010) and have immunosuppressive effect as well (McKenzie and Dunster, 1986).…”