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Evaluation of Amino Acids, B Vitamins and Butylated Hydroxyanisole as Protective Agents against Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxicity in Rats¹

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

Abstract

Supplementation of the diets of rats with branched chain amino acids (BCAA: leucine, isoleucine, valine) did not alter their susceptibility to chronic poisoning by tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), which contains heptotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Phenobarbital in the diet, which alters liver microsomal enzyme activity, also did not alter susceptibility to PA poisoning. A combination of butylated hy-droxyanisole (BHA), cysteine and BCAA did increase (P<.05) survival time of rats fed tansy ragwort. Dietary BHA and cysteine increased the survival time of rats injected with the PA monocrotaline, with evidence that addition of vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid improved the effectiveness of this treatment. In a chronic feeding trial with tansy ragwort, a combination of BHA and cysteine increased (P<.05) the survival times of rats, showing protective activity against PA poisoning. A mixture of B-complex vitamins, or vitamin B₁₂-folic acid, was not effective in improving the response.

¹ Tech. Paper No. 6476, Oregon Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.