The toxicity of yellow oleander (Thevetia neriifolia juss) seed kernels to rats.

Toxic effects of yellow oleander (Thevetia neriifolia Juss) seed kernels were evaluated against the roof rat (Rattus rattus Linn). Crushed ground seed kernels were fed with bait at 20 and 30% concentrations. The bait was fed up to mortality or for a maximum of 10 d. Major signs of poisoning observed were hind limb paralysis, rolling of the body on the long axis, circular flailing of the tail, muscular twitch, tetanic convulsions, tremors, collapse and death. Significant reductions in the rats' weights were observed. The observed mortalities were 16/20 and 18/20 with the above respective doses. Statistically significant reductions in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, total leucocyte count and neutrophils, and increased lymphocytes were observed. Reductions in blood glucose and serum proteins, and increased lymphocytes were observed. Reductions in blood glucose and serum proteins, and increased BUN, SGOT and LDH, were also significant. Histopathological studies showed inflammatory and degenerative changes in the liver and kidney. Severe to moderate fatty metamorphosis, congestion, hepatocytolysis, nuclear degeneration, pyknosis, and necrosis were major changes in the liver. Proliferation of glomerular endothelium, hypercellularity of the glomerulus, necrosis of convoluted tubular epithelium, disappearance of nuclei and pyknosis were important changes in the kidney cortical region. Atrophy, erosion and inflammatory changes were observed in the stomach mucosal linings.

The toxicity of Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) seeds to rats.

Toxicolethal effects of seeds of mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana L) were investigated in to roof rat, (Rattus rattus L). The argemone seeds were fed at 100% of the diet up to the death or for a maximum of 10 days. Observed signs of poisoning were sedation, passiveness, sluggishness, feeble or no muscular jerks, abdominal contractions and increased defecation. Also black secretions from the eyes, corneal opacity, erection of hairs, and edema of the hind legs and submandibular space in were noted. Fourteen of 16 rats died. Significant reduction in the weights of the rats was observed. There were significant increases in blood glucose, BUN and SGOT. Major histopathological lesions were: hepatocytolysis, nuclear degeneration, pyknosis, cloudy swelling and dilatated sinusoids disturbing the lobulalar architecture of the liver; proliferated endothelium of glomeruli, hemorrhage in glomeruli and interstitium, and cloudy swelling of convoluted tubular epithelium in the kidney cortical region; erosion and atrophy of the upper stomach mucosa and calcification in the cardiac stomach, and; erosion and congestion of the upper mucosa of the duodenum. No change was noticed in the ileum.

The toxicity of Indian Calotropis procera RBr latex in the black rat, Rattus rattus Linn.

Toxicity studies with latex of Calotropis procera RBr were conducted in the black rat, Rattus rattus. The latex was fed through bait prepared from wheat flour, ground nut oil and sugar at concentrations of 5, 7.5 or 10% (W/W). The bait was fed up to mortality and for a maximum of 10 days. The signs produced were passivity, sluggishness, sedation, dyspnea, weakness, reduction in weight, anorexia, diarhhea, hematuria, bleeding from nose, eyes and anus, eye lens opacity, mild tetanic convulsions, collapse and death. The observed mortalities were 56.25, 68.75 and 87.5% with the respective doses. Histopathological studies showed: cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, inflammatory changes, Kupffer cell hyperlasia, cytoplasmic granulation, hepatocytolysis, compactness of lobular architecture, and occasional hemorrhage in the liver; cloudy swelling of convoluted tubular epithelium, inflammatory changes and hemorrhage in the kidney; erosion, increased mucus secretion, congestion and infiltration of lymphocytes in portions of the alimentary canal.