Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294468

Title: A toxicokinetic comparison of two species of low larkspur (Delphinium spp.) in cattle

Author
item Green, Benedict - Ben
item Welch, Kevin
item Gardner, Dale
item Stegelmeier, Bryan
item Lee, Stephen

Submitted to: Research in Veterinary Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2013
Publication Date: 10/1/2013
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62994
Citation: Green, B.T., Welch, K.D., Gardner, D.R., Stegelmeier, B.L., Lee, S.T. 2013. A toxicokinetic comparison of two species of low larkspur (Delphinium spp.) in cattle. Research in Veterinary Science. 95(2):612-615.

Interpretive Summary: The results from this study suggest that in order to determine the risk of larkspur toxicosis to cattle, knowledge of plant alkaloid composition and concentration are needed. As with tall larkspur species, these findings suggest that seven days is adequate to clear 99% of the toxic alkaloids from the serum of the steers exposed to either species of low larkspur.

Technical Abstract: Low larkspurs can have different toxic potentials to livestock due to variation in the individual alkaloids present in the plants. Two species of low larkspur, Delphinium nuttallianum and D. andersonii were dosed to 10 Holstein steers at 10mg and 12mg toxic alkaloids/kg, respectively. Blood samples were collected periodically for 96 hours analyzed for serum alkaloid concentrations and toxicokinetic parameters calculated for 16-deacetlgeyerline, 14-deacetylnudicauline, methyllycaconitine and geyerline/nudicauline. The plant alkaloid elimation half-lives of 12 to 16 h were similar for the two larkspur species. These results suggest that plant alkaloid concentrations and individual alkaloid toxicity are important determinants to evaluate the potential for poisoning and risk to grazing livestock.