Chemical research in toxicology
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Chem. Res. Toxicol. · Mar 1996
Comparative StudyInduction of terata in hamsters by solanidane alkaloids derived from Solanum tuberosum.
The potential induction of terata by solanidanes has been of public health concern since a report in 1972 hypothesized that certain birth defects in humans could be attributed to ingestion of blighted potatoes. The potential teratogenicity of solanidane alkaloids from potatoes and tomatoes in domestic livestock had been considered even earlier. In the present report, oral administration of the steroidal alkaloid glycosides alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine and their aglycone solanidine is shown to induce craniofacial malformations (exencephaly, encephalocele, and anophthalmia) in Syrian hamsters. ⋯ The teratogenicity of solanidine N-oxide, a putative metabolite, suggests that N-oxidation is not an effective mammalian detoxification pathway. Relative teratogenic potencies (RTP) were assigned to solanidanes by conversion of literature data to equimolar doses compared to the powerful Veratrum teratogen jervine and the nonteratogenic spirosolane tomatidine. RTP values are as follows: jervine (100), 22(S),-25(R)-solanidanes (50), alpha-chaconine (43), alpha-solanine (32), 22(R),25(S)-solanidine (32), solanidine N-oxide (32), 5 alpha,6-dihydrosolanidine (9), and tomatidine (0).