Acute toxicity of the major alkaloids of cultivated <i>Lupinus angustifolius</i> seed to rats

Abstract

The seed of modern cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius normally contain less than 0.03% alkaloids. The acute oral LD50 to rats of a pro rata mixture of the alkaloids of L. angustifolius seed was found to be 2279 mg/kg. For lupanine the LD50 by oral administration was 1464 mg/kg and by intraperitoneal injection 177 mg/kg. For 13-hydroxylupanine the LD50 by intraperitoneal injection was 199 mg/kg. Since these two alkaloids comprise about 85% of the total and are known to be rapidly cleared from the body it is suggested that the alkaloids in this species do not pose a health problem for man.