Premium
Bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum )—toxic effects and toxic constituents
Author(s) -
Fenwick G R
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740460204
Subject(s) - bracken , pteridium aquilinum , biology , toxicology , botany , fern
Bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum L Kuhn) is one of the most successful weeds of the world. In the UK it covers almost 700 000 ha, and is expanding its area by 1–3 % per annum. Not only does bracken limit the usefulness of marginal land but toxic principles in the plant may cause serious illness and even death in stock animals consuming its rhizomes or fronds. Bracken‐derived acute thiamine deficiency disorders occur in pigs and horses, and acute haemorrhagic syndrome, bovine enzootic haematuria and ‘bright blindness’ are all responsible for significant losses of livestock. A great deal of research has resulted in the isolation and identification of a number of natural components of bracken, and the evaluation of their biological effects using laboratory animal models and farm livestock has been carried out in detail. One compound contributing significantly to the toxicity of bracken is the carcinogenic and mutagenic norsesquiterpene, ptaquiloside. The effects on stock and laboratory animals of bracken, its extracts or ptaquiloside are discussed in this paper; the risk to human health from consumption of bracken fronds, milk and dairy products containing bracken carcinogens or their metabolites and drinking water supplies containing bracken leachates is considered from the standpoint of the UK and beyond. Options for the control of bracken are described briefly, and the final section indicates areas of bracken research deserving of further study.