VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

INTRODUCTION

• Plants are the common sources for poisoning in cattle and buffaloes.
• The plants contain alkaloids, glycosides, toxalbumin, essential oils, resins, bitter principles etc., which are of importance toxicologically besides their pharmacologic actions.
• These phytotoxins also have public health impact as hazardous levels of toxins.
• Phytotoxins are referred to as secondary plant metabolites.
• These metabolites do not have any apparent function in the plant.
• They also do not have nutrient characteristics for human beings.
• They only serve as defence mechanisms or survival adaptations.
• These are used as defences against  predators, parasites and diseases, for inter species competition and to facilitate reproductive processes.