Toxicity of Piper abyssinica seeds to Nubian goats.

ABSTRACT

An investigation is described in which Nubian goats were given daily oral doses of Piper abyssinica seeds at 0.25; 1 and 5 g/kg body weight. The results of liver and kidney function tests were correlated with the clinical and pathological changes. In goats receiving the plant seed at 5 g/kg body weight/day, death occurred within 5-14 days and the main signs were bloated rumen, diarrhoea, dysponoea and ataxia. Enterohepatonephropathy was accompanied by increases in the activity of serum ALP and GGT, in the concentration of cholesterol, globulin, total lipids and urea and decreases in the level of albumin. Piper seed was toxic but not lethal to goats at doses of 0.25 and 1 g/kg body weight.