Role of sulphur in cyanide detoxification in ruminants

Effects of Long-Term Low-Dose Cyanide Administration to Rats

“…Reduction of weight gain associated with chronic cyanide exposure was found in several animal species, such as rats 38 (Philbrick et al, 1979), dogs (Ibebunjo et al, 1992), pigs (Tewe et al, 1984), sheep (Onwuka et al, 1992), and goats (Onwuka et al, 1992;Soto-Blanco et al, 2001), as well as humans (Blanc et al, 1985). However, current results found no di!erences between control and experimental rats in this parameter.…”

“…However, current results found no di!erences between control and experimental rats in this parameter. The body weight reduction produced by cyanide appears to be a result of sulfur-containing amino acid depletion caused by their use as a source for sulfur for cyanide detoxi"cation (Onwuka et al, 1992). In fact, Philbrick et al (1979), who also used rats as an animal model to study the chronic e!ects of the cyanogenic glycoside, linamarin, veri"-ed a reduced weight gain only in rats from the experimental group whose ration had been depleted of the sulfur amino acid methionine.…”

Effect of feeding fresh, wilted and sun-dried foliage from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) on the performance of lambs and their intake of hydrogen cyanide

“…Thiocyanate is formed mainly in the liver, passed to blood serum and later to the urine. Passage of thiocyanate into serum is apparently slow and renal absorption from serum is a very slow process in ruminants (Onwuka et al, 1992). The results from Table 4 and Fig.…”

Effects of dietary sulphur sources on concentrations of hydrogen sulphide in the rumen head-space gas of dairy cows

“…Further consideration of this observation reveals that cyanogenesis in white clover might provide an explanation. Micro-organisms can detoxify hydrogen cyanide by combining it with hydrogen sulphide to produce thiocyanate (Onwuka et al, 1992).…”