Isolation of the poisonous principle of Dimorphotheca cuneata Less

Abstract

The toxic substance present in the plant Dimorphoteca cuneata has been isolated and identified as the cyanogenetic glucoside "linamarin" or acetonecyanhydrin glucose ether. An improved method of extraction has been described. The plant contains the enzyme "linamarase" exhibiting a fairly high degree of specificity for its substrate. Quantitative determination shows that Dimorphotheca cuneata in the flowering stage yields about 280 mgm. of HCN per 100 gm. plant, calculated on the dry weight basis. The toxic effects following ingestion of lethal quantities of the plant appear to develop more slowly than is usually the case with Dimorphotheca species.