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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238712
Title: A Quantitative Method for the Measurement of Three Benzofuran Ketones in Rayless Goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) and White Snakeroot (Ageratine altissima) by HPLC

Author
item Lee, Stephen
item Davis, Thomas - Zane
item Gardner, Dale
item Stegelmeier, Bryan
item EVANS, TIM

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2009
Publication Date: 5/29/2009
Citation: Lee, S.T., Davis, T.Z., Gardner, D.R., Stegelmeier, B.L., Evans, T.J. 2009. A Quantitative Method for the Measurement of Three Benzofuran Ketones in Rayless Goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) and White Snakeroot (Ageratine altissima) by HPLC. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 57(12):5639-5642

Interpretive Summary: White snakeroot and rayless goldenrod can cause “trembles” and “milk sickness” in livestock and humans, respectively. Tremetol, a complex mixture of chemicals has been extracted from white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod and is reported to be the toxic substance in plant material. In this study, the three major chemicals, tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone were isolated from rayless goldenrod. Using these chemicals standards, a quantitative HPLC method was developed to measure these chemicals in white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod plant material. Concentrations of tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone were found to vary considerably among the different white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod plant collections.

Technical Abstract: White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) and rayless goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) can cause “trembles” and “milk sickness” in livestock and humans, respectively. Tremetol, a complex mixture of sterols and derivatives of methyl ketone benzofuran has been extracted from white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod and is reported to be the toxic substance in plant material. In this study, the three major benzofuran ketones, tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone were isolated from rayless goldenrod. Using these compounds as standards, a quantitative HPLC method was developed to measure these compounds in white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod. Concentrations of tremetone, dehydrotremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone were found to vary considerably among the different white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod plant collections.