Potatoes, members of the Solanaceae plant family, serve as a major, inexpensive food source for both energy (starch) and good-quality protein, with worldwide production of about 350 million tons per year. U.S. per capita consumption of potatoes is about 61 kg/year. Potatoes also produce potentially toxic glycoalkaloids, both during growth and after harvest. Glycoalkaloids appear to be more toxic to man than to other animals. The toxicity may be due to anticholinesterase activity of the glycoalkaloids on the central nervous system and to disruptions of cell membranes affecting the digestive system and other organs. The possible contribution of glycoalkaloids to the multifactorial aspects of teratogenicity is inconclusive. Possible safe levels are controversial; guidelines limiting glycoalkaloid content of potato cultivars are currently being debated. This review presents an integrated, critical assessment of the multifaceted aspects of the role glycoalkaloids play in nutrition and food safety; che...

Potato glycoalkaloids: chemistry, analysis, safety, and plant physiology

Role and regulation of L-glutamate dehydrogenase activity in higher plants

Data from animal teratology studies were surveyed to determine whether embryo-fetal mortality and fetal malformations result from a primary action of the agent on the conceptus or if they are secondary to maternal toxicity–a consequence of administration with high dose levels of test chemicals. A fairly strong association between embryo-fetal mortality and maternal toxicity was revealed by analysis of data from hamsters, mice, rats, and rabbits in 234 studies of chemical and physical agents, of which 83 were conducted at both maternotoxic and nonmaternotoxic doses, 94 only at maternotoxic doses, and 49 at nonmaternotoxic doses. In the above studies, only nine chemicals (four each in hamsters and rabbits and one in rats) were reported to induce embryo-fetal deaths at apparently nonmaternotoxic doses. These findings tend to suggest a contributory role for maternal toxicity in the induction of embryo-fetal deaths. The previously reported hypothesis that certain fetal defects in mice may perhaps be caused by maternal toxicity was also found to be true in a review of data on hamsters, rats, and rabbits. Salient maternal toxicity-associated fetal malformations were exencephaly, encephalocele, micro- or anophalmia, and fused ribs in hamsters and defective (fused, missing, or extra) ribs, vertebrae, and sternebrae, ex-, an-, or microphthalmia, and cleft palate in rats and rabbits. These malformations occurred at low frequencies, generally with no readily apparent dose-response relationship. Presumptive evidence indicates that embryo-fetal deaths, and the above-mentioned fetal malformations in experimental animals, which in published literature are presently attributed to chemical induction for a large number of chemicals, may be a consequence of maternal toxicity per se.

Maternal toxicity: A possible etiological factor in embryo‐fetal deaths and fetal malformations of rodent‐rabbit species

(1981). Naturally Occurring Toxic Alkaloids in Foods. CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 21-104.

Naturally occurring toxic alkaloids in foods.

Developmental toxicology of potato alkaloids in the frog embryo teratogenesis assay—Xenopus (FETAX)

Foliar applications of 2 milligrams per liter of 2-chloro-4,6-bis (ethylamino)-s-triazine, 2-methylmercapto-4-ethylamino-6-isobutylamino-s-triazine, and 2-methoxy-4-isopropylamino-6-butylamino-s-triazine caused increases in the activities of starch phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase, cytochrome oxidase, and glutamate dehydrogenase 5, 10, and 15 days after treatment in the leaves of 3-week-old seedlings of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.). The results indicate that sublethal concentrations of s-triazine compounds affect the physiological and biochemical events in plants which favor more utilization of carbohydrates for nitrate reduction and synthesis of amino acids and proteins.

Influence of s-Triazines on Some Enzymes of Carbohydrates and Nitrogen Metabolism in Leaves of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.).

Influence of foliar application of simazine, igran, and GS-14254 on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase of pea seedlings

Freeze-dried preparations of potatoes infected with phytophthora infestans or Alternaria solani were fed to pregnant hamsters, rabbits, and miniature swine. No evidence was observed that these diets or the extracts of respective blights were capable of producing teratologic effects in hamsters. Lesions of neurulation and anencephaly were noticed in rabbits and swine, respectively. The need for further pharmacological and toxicological evaluation in sensitive species is emphasized.

Teratogenic potential of blighted potato concentrate in rabbits, hamsters, and miniature swine.

Nachweis, dass die Blattbehandlung mit subletaler Konzentration von Simazin, Propazin, Igran und Prometon die Protein-Synthese bei Erbse und Mais vermehrt. Die Blattbehandlung mit Simazin zerstorte die Ultrastruktur des Samenlappens bei der Erbse.

Effects ofs-triazines on protein synthesis in leaves of peas (Pisum sativum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and on the ultrastructure of pea cotyledons

Behandlung der Sprossknollen mit Benzyladenin fordert die Glykoalkaloidbildung der Solanaceen. Je nach Extraktionsmethode konnen unidentifizierte Alkaloide nachgewiesen werden.

M. T. Wu

Papers

Influence of s-Triazines on Some Enzymes of Carbohydrates and Nitrogen Metabolism in Leaves of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.).

Influence of foliar application of simazine, igran, and GS-14254 on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase of pea seedlings

Teratogenic potential of blighted potato concentrate in rabbits, hamsters, and miniature swine.

Effects ofs-triazines on protein synthesis in leaves of peas (Pisum sativum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and on the ultrastructure of pea cotyledons

Effects of N6-benzyladenine on glycoalkaloids in potatoes as determined by thin layer chromatography