The use of herbarium voucher specimens to investigate phytochemical composition in poisonous plant research

Authors: Cook, Daniel; Lee, Stephen; Gardner, Dale; MOLYNEUX, RUSSELL - University Of Hawaii; JOHNSON, ROBERT - Brigham Young University; TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE - Missouri Botanical Garden

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2021
Publication Date: 4/2/2021
Citation: Cook, D., Lee, S.T., Gardner, D.R., Molyneux, R.J., Johnson, R.L., Taylor, C.M. 2021. The use of herbarium voucher specimens to investigate phytochemical composition in poisonous plant research. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 69(14):4037-4047. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00708.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00708

Interpretive Summary: Poisonous plants cause large losses to the livestock industry through death, reduced production efficiency, reproductive dysfunction, and compromised harvesting of rangeland and pasture forages. Research investigating poisonous plants is complex as there are hundreds of genera of toxic plants representing thousands of species. To investigate the effects of poisonous plants on livestock, a clear understanding of the taxonomic identity of the plant and the ability to collect the plant in sufficient quantities for scientific studies is required. Subsequently, the active principles must be defined and investigated in the taxa of interest as to better predict risk and make recommendations to reduce losses. Herbaria are collections of preserved plant specimens and are an important resource in poisonous plant research. Voucher specimens have often been included in the experimental reproduction of suspected livestock poisoning associated with a spontaneous case. More recently herbarium specimens have been used to investigate the chemical composition of toxic plants as well as the distribution of different chemotypes over the landscape. The primary purpose of this review is to highlight the use of herbarium specimens in poisonous plant research.

Technical Abstract: Poisonous plants cause large losses to the livestock industry through death, reduced production efficiency, reproductive dysfunction, and compromised harvesting of rangeland and pasture forages. Research investigating poisonous plants is complex as there are hundreds of genera of toxic plants representing thousands of species. To investigate the effects of poisonous plants on livestock, a clear understanding of the taxonomic identity of the plant and the ability to collect the plant in sufficient quantities for scientific studies is required. Subsequently, the active principles must be defined and investigated in the taxa of interest as to better predict risk and make recommendations to reduce losses. Herbaria are collections of preserved plant specimens and are an important resource in poisonous plant research. Voucher specimens have often been included in the experimental reproduction of suspected livestock poisoning associated with a spontaneous case. More recently herbarium specimens have been used to investigate the chemical composition of toxic plants as well as the distribution of different chemotypes over the landscape. The primary purpose of this review is to highlight the use of herbarium specimens in poisonous plant research.