The esterase metabolism of the death camas alkaloids, 3-angeloylzygadenine and 3-veratroylzygadenine to zygadenine in sheep

Lay Summary Foothill death camas is an early, cool-season, perennial native plant that during the early spring when better forage is not available, poisons sheep. The major toxins in death camas are zygadenine, zygacine, 3-angeloylzygadendine and 3-veratroylzygadenine, the latter two are found in death camas reproductive tissues at high concentrations. Results from this work suggest that except for 3-angeloylzygadendine, sheep metabolize death camas toxins. Sheep that have differences in rates of alkaloid absorption or compromised liver function could potentially be affected more severely by death camas.