Abstract
Cyanogenetic glycosides were found to be present in the leaf, bark and fruit of eight species of Cotoneaster. A quantitative determination of cyanogenetic material was made on the leaf, bark and fruit of C. divaricate at three different periods in the growing season. The leaf was found to have the greatest percentage of cyanogenetic glycosides and the fruit the least. Seasonal variation was found to be greatest in the fruit where it was demonstrated that the cyanogenetic content decreased as the fruit aged. Toxicity of the fruit of C. divaricata was studied in the dog, cat and rat. On the basis of the cyanogenetic glycoside determinations and the toxicity studies it was concluded that classification of these eight species of Cotoneaster as poisonous was not warranted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bumside, J. E. 1954. Procedure for qualitative determination of hydrocyanic acid by the sodium picrate test. Georgia Vet. 6(3): 10.
Datta, S. K. 1955. Chemical investigation of IndianCotoneaster frígida. I. Chemical composition of fruit pulps. Jour. Indian Chem. Soc. 32: 344.
Gettler, A. O. and J. O. Baine. 1938. The toxicology of cyanide. Amer. Jour. Med. Sci. 195: 182.
Guignard, M. L. 1907. New examples of Rosaceae which produce hydrocyanic acid. Compt. rend. Acad. Sci. 143: 451.
Herissey, H. 1907. The occurrence of prulaurasin inCotoneaster microphylla Wall. Arch. Pharm. 245: 473.
—. 1907. The existence of prulaurasin inCotoneaster microphylla. Jour. Pharm. Chem. 24: 537.
Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Miller, L. C. and M. L. Tainter. 1944. Estimation of the ED50 and its error by means of logarithmic-probit graph paper. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 57: 261.
Muenscher, W. G. 1951. Poisonous plants of the United States. 2nd ed. Macmillan, New York, New York.
Plouvier, V. 1936. The presence of amygdonitrile glucoside in the genus Cotoneaster and the leaves ofCydonia vulgaris. Pers. Compt. rend. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 202: 352.
—. 1942. Biochemical study of some Rosaceae. Ann. sci. nat. Botan. 3: 204.
Rosenthaler, L. 1926. The hydrocyanic acid question. XVIII. New plants containing HCN. Pharm. Acta Helv. 1: 167.
—. 1929. The hydrocyanic acid question. XXVI. New occurrences of hydrocyanic acid. Pharm. Acta. Helv. 4: 196.
Watt, J. M. and M. G. Breyer-Brandwijk. 1962. Medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa. E. and S. Livingstone Ltd., London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This investigation was supported by National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Participation Program Grant No.GE-6543.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tidwell, R.H., Beal, J.L., Patel, D.G. et al. A study of the cyanogenetic content and toxicity of the fruit of selected species ofCotoneaster . Econ Bot 24, 47–50 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860634
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860634