Comparison of the toxicities of Senecio jacobaea, Senecio vulgaris and Senecio glabellus in rats.

The toxicity of Senecio jacobaea, S. vulgaris and S. glabellus to rats was assessed in a feeding trial. The plants were of similar toxicity, with a plant dry matter intake of about 20% of initial body weight being a lethal dose. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated the presence of seneciphylline, jacobine, jacozine and jacoline in S. jacobaea, senecionine and seneciphylline in S. vulgaris, and senecionine in S. glabellus. An unidentified alkaloid was also found in all three plants.