Macrocyclic trichothecenes: cause of livestock poisoning by the Brazilian plant Baccharis coridifolia

Nine macrocyclic trichothecenes, thought to cause toxic effects in herbivors, were isolated from the Brazilian shrub Baccharis coridifolia. The structures of two new components, named miophytocene A and B, are described. Structure analysis was mainly accomplished by application of two-dimensional Fourier transform NMR techniques. The trichothecenes are most likely produced by the soil fungus Myrothecium verrucaria, which was isolated from soil samples around B. coridifolia. It is concluded that the plant is able to absorb and accumulate these mycotoxins. Histopathological studies on rabbits which received roridin E and A per os revealed mainly necrosis and hemorrhages of the mucosa of the colon and in the case of roridin A also of the caecum. Lethality in mice was generally low, intoxication proceeding slowly. It has to be considered, however, that all trichothecenes tested are practically insoluble in aqueous solutions and were applied as emulsions (i.p. and per os application). No trichothecenes or other toxic substances were detected from the Brazilian species Baccharis dracunculifolia, although slight toxic effects have been reported in cattle.