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The Radiomimetic Nature of Bracken Toxin

Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, University College of North Wales, Bangor, United Kingdom

Young, actively growing bracken contains a toxin(s) which reproduces many of the effects of radiation. It produces intestinal adenocarcinomas in rats and Japanese quail, pulmonary adenomas in mice, and hematuria and bladder tumors in guinea pigs. Age dependence has been established for rats. An active fraction containing both the acute cattle factor and the carcinogen is mutagenic (drosophila and mice), and this test is being used as a small scale assay for the final stages of isolation of the activity. The gastrointestinal and bone marrow deaths have been reproduced in calves and lambs. The calf model has been used for an intensive study of the early syndrome. Humoral and cellular changes (including mast cells) are reported.