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VetBooks.ir Chapter 64

Cyanogenic Glycoside Containing Plants

Kip E. Panter

INTRODUCTION
TABLE 64.1 Common Plants Associated with
Plants containing cyanogenic glycosides are widespread
Cyanogenic Glycosides and Poisoning in Animals
in nature and are responsible for multiple disease condi- a
and People
tions in animals and people. The ubiquitous nature of
plants containing cyanogenic glycosides is represented by Common Name Taxonomic Name
more than 2500 species found within most plant families
Sorghum, Johnson grass, Sudan Sorghum spp.
including the Rosaceae, Leguminoseae, Gramineae, grass
Araceae, Poaceae, Compositeae, Euphorbiaceae, and
Choke cherry/Black cherry Prunus spp.
Passifloraceae (Kingsbury, 1964; Knight and Walter,
2001; Burrows and Tyrl, 2013). Some of the more com- Elder berry Sambuccus spp.
mon plant genera reported to cause poisoning and repre- Arrow grass Triglochin spp.
sented in the literature include the Prunus spp. (wild
Common vetch Vicia sativa
cherry, black cherry, choke cherry); Sambucus spp. (elder-
berry, Linum (flax)); Sorghum spp. (sorghum, sudan grass, White clover Trifolium repens
Johnson grass); Triglochin spp. (arrow grass); Manihot Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum
(cassava) and Bambusa (bamboo) to name a few
Bamboo Bambusa spp.
(Table 64.1). More than 50 cyanogenic glycosides have
Peaches, apricots, (pits) Prunus spp.
been identified and some of the more common ones
include amygdalin and prunasin found in wild cherries, Apple (seeds) Malus spp.
mountain mahogany, Saskatoon service berries, and the Birds foot trefoil Lotus spp.
kernels of almonds, apricots, peaches, and apples, dhurrin
Cassava, tapioca, manioc Manihot esculenta
found in Sorghum spp., and linamarin and lotaustralin
found in cassava and lima beans (Seigler, 1975; Conn, Catclaw, acacia Acacia spp.
1980; Majak et al., 1981; Knight and Walter, 2001; Service or Saskatoon berry Amelanchier
Minunni and Bilia, 2008; Kudtak et al., 2017). While
Mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanum
cyanide is usually sequestered in plants in a relatively
Eucalyptus, gum tree Eucalyptus spp.
nontoxic form (glycoside) there are a few plants that
contain cyanolipids (Kudtak et al., 2017). These are Flax Linium spp.
usually oil seed plants and pose less risk for toxicity Corn, maize Zea mays
compared to the cyanogenic glycosides. Cyanide poison-
Lima beans Phaseolus lunatus
ing in animals from plants may be acute with rapid death
or a more chronic form with debilitating neurological Almonds Prunus dulcis
effects as occurs after repeated long-term exposure. a
This table reports some of the most common cyanogenic plants
When ingestion occurs at a high enough rate to over- associated with animal and human poisoning. However, this is far from a
whelm the detoxification and excretion mechanisms then complete list.
Source: Adapted from multiple sources: Kingsbury, J.M., 1964.
death may occur very rapidly. Readers are referred to Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada. Prentice Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 23 26; Knight, A.P., Walter, R.G., 2001. A
Knight and Walter (2001) and Burrows and Tyrl (2013)
Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals. Teton Press; Burrows, G.E., Tyrl, R.
for a more comprehensive review of cyanide-containing J., 2013. Toxic Plants of North America. John Wiley and Sons Publishing,
Ames, IA, 1381 pp.
plants.
Veterinary Toxicology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811410-0.00064-7
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