Isolation and identification of the toxic principle of Gastrolobium grandiflorum

Abstract

Gastrolobium grandifiorum is one of the most toxic of Queensland plants and has caused serious stock losses in Central Queensland.
The toxic principle was isolated from the leaf and identified as monofluoroacetic acid. Identity was established by gas chromatography, infra-red absorption spectroscopy, and micro-fluorine analysis.
An extract of G. grandiflorum administered orally to both sheep and rats resulted in clinical symptoms, biochemical changes, and post-mortem findings similar to those obtained following the administration of an equivalent amount of authentic monofluoroacetic acid.