Source: Landcare Research (1964). Control of poisons. Royal ...

1080 Reassessment Application October 2006
Appendix C
fluoroacetate, 600 micrograms given intraperitoneally on the 9th day, causes eye anomalies, syndactylia
and evisceration.
De Moraes-Moreau, R. L., Haraguchi, M., Morita, H., and Palermo-Neto, J. (1995). Chemical and
biological demonstration of the presence of monofluoroacetate in the leaves of Palicourea marcgravii St
Hil. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 28, 685-692.
Keywords: mode of action/occurrence in nature/product chemistry/acute toxicity/NMR/monofluoroacetic
acid/symptoms/sodium monofluoroacetate/monofluoroacetate/rats
Abstract: Cattle losses in Brazil have been attributed to Palicourea marcgravii St. Hil., a toxic plant for
cattle. The crude extract from the leaves of P. marcgravii was successively fractionated using solvents with
different polarities to determine whether monofluoroacetic acid and/or some other substance present in the
leaves maybe responsible for the acute symptoms caused by the plant. Authentic sodium monofluoroacetate
(SMFA) was used for comparison. The only P. marcgravii fraction which induced seizures and death in
intoxicated rats was water soluble. The signs and symptoms induced in the animals by the crude extract and
water-soluble fraction were the same as induced by SMFA and included tonic seizures and other actions on
the CNS. The close-lethality and dose-latency to the 1st seizure curves constructed for the water-soluble
fraction of the leaf extract (30-100 mg/kg) and SMFA (0.6-3.0 mg/kg) were parallel. Five animals per dose
were used. The potency ratio of SMFA in relation to the water-soluble fraction of the leaf extract was 53.8
(dose-lethality curve) and 64.1 (dose-latency to the 1st seizure curve). The water-soluble fraction contained
a substance with hRf = 20 which was the same as that of authentic SMFA. The F-19 NMR spectra of
authentic SMFA and the P. marcgravii water-soluble fraction were identical. These data demonstrate the
presence of SMFA in the water-soluble fraction of P. marcgravii leaves and show that monofluoroacetate is
the active principle responsible for the signs and symptoms of acute intoxication.
de Oliveira, M. M. (1963). Chromatographic isolation of monofluoroacetic acid from Palicourea
marcgravii St.Hill. Experientia 29, 586-587.
Keywords: occurrence in nature/analysis/monofluoroacetic acid
Abstract: 'Erva de rato' (rat weed) Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) whose natural habitat is in moist
woodlands is a shrub found in several Brazilian states. It has long been known as one of the most toxic
plants of our pastures, although its active principle had not previously been identified. The present note
deals with the isolation of the substance mainly by chromatographic methods, and its identification as
monofluoroacetic acid.
Demarchi, A. C., Menezes M.L., Mercadante A., and Vassillief I. (2001). Determination of the sodium
monofluoroacetate in serum by gas chromatography. Chromatographia 54, 402-404.
Keywords: serum/sodium monofluoroacetate/humans/poisoning/analysis
Abstract: Sodium monofluoroacetate (NAFAc) has been widely used for vertebrate pest control, such as
rabbits in Australia. However NAFAc is extremely toxic to all vertebrates and its use is restricted. Although
this compound is stringently restricted, the occurrence of accidental and homicidal poisoning is no everpresent
possibility. The method developed in this work shows the applicability of SPE with alumina
cartridges for the extraction of NAFAc from serum samples. The method is efficient with recoveries of at
least 96.8% from spiked serum. The samples were subsequently derivatized with dicyclohexylcabodiimide
(DCC), using 2,4-dichloroaniline (DCA), to make the product volatile for GC analysis.
Deonier, C. C., Jones, H. A., and Incho, H. H. (1946). Organic compounds effective against larvae of
Anopheles quadrimaculatus : laboratory tests. Journal of economic entomology 39, 459-462.
Keywords: aquatic species/non-target species/invertebrates
Abstract: Of the 6000 organic compounds tested to determine their toxicity to fourth-instar larvae of
Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say only 175 gave mortalities of over 50 per cent in 58 hours at 1 p.p.m.
Twenty-two compounds, in addition to DDT and related compounds, showed toxicity at 0.1 p.p.m. Acetic
acid 1-trichloromethyl -2,2,-methylene bis (4,6-dichlorophenyl) diester; benzene hexachloride; and
Synthetic 3956 were superior to the other compounds in their toxicity to anopheline larvae.
Desmoulin, F., Gilard, V., Malet-Martino, M., and Martino, R. (2002). Metabolism of capecitabine, an oral
fluorouracil prodrug: F-19 NMR studies in animal models and human urine. Drug metabolism and
disposition 30, 1221-1229.
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