Mustards Brassica Brassica spp

Mustards
Brassica
Brassica spp.
FAMILY: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)

DISTRIBUTION:
Some species of Brassica are cultivated plants; others are troublesome weeds of fields, waste places, gardens, and roadsides.

DESCRIPTION:
Taxonomically the genus has been organized in several different fashions. Most members encountered in the Commonwealth bear saccate sepals, yellow petals, and have 4 rounded staminal glands at the base of the ovary. The fruit is terminated by a conspicuous beak, sometimes containing a basal seed.

TOXIC PARTS:
Seeds and plants with seed capsules are poisonous.

TOXICITY:
The effects of Brassica poisoning vary depending upon the species of plant consumed Brassica Kaber(DC) L. (charlock; wild mustard) is known to cause gastroenteritis, pain, salivation, diarrhea, and upper digestive tract disturbances, including irritation of the mouth. These symptoms also are associated with B. hirta Moench. (white mustard) ingestion. Some cultivated mustards such as Brassica oleracea var acephala DC (common kale), B. o. var capitata L. (cabbage), and B. o. var. gemmifera Zenker, (Brussels sprouts), cause hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria in some livestock. Goitrogenic substances (LS-vinyl-2-thioaxazolidone) are known in kale, cabbage, and turnip (Brassica rapa L.),

TOXIC PRINCIPLES:
The substance responsible for toxicosis is sinigrin, which in the presence of the enzyme myrosinase, is converted to glucose, allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil), and potassium hydrogen sulfate. Mustard oils are poisonous. The toxicity, by ingestion, of allyl isothiocyanate has been determined (in cattle) to be 0.001% of the body weight. Also, mustards occasionally contain toxic concentrations of nitrate that may complicate toxicosis.

TREATMENT:;
treat symptoms asw they appear, supportive therapy.