Observations on Toxicity of Oil of Chenopodium. 163 

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Further observations on the toxicity of the oil of chenopodium. 

 By William Salant and Robert Bengis. 



[From the Pharmacological Laboratory, Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C] 



As pointed out in a previous communication from this labora- 

 tory, the vegetable oils may decrease the toxicity of the oil of cheno- 

 podium. Observations made since these results were published, 

 have amply corroborated our previous findings Four tenths to 

 0.6 c.c. per kilo of the oil of chenopodium given by mouth to rabbits 

 was fatal in 22 per cent, to 25 per cent, of the experiments while 

 the mortality when this amount was given in acacia reached 78 

 per cent. Observations were also made on the effect of cheno- 

 podium on the action of the kidney under different conditions of 

 diet. Albumin and casts were found in the urine after the ad- 

 ministration of 0.4 to 0.6 c.c. oil of chenopodium per kilo with 

 15 c.c. cocoanut oil to rabbits receiving an oats diet. A small 

 amount of albuminuria and casts were also found, however, after 

 feeding the same amounts of the vegetable oils. This usually 

 lasted 24 to 48 hours, while albuminuria and casts after oil of 

 chenopodium persisted much longer. When oil of chenopodium 

 was given in acacia similar results were obtained indicating that the 

 glycerides do not protect the kidney against the irritating effect 

 of oil of chenopodium. On the other hand, in experiments on 

 rabbits which received carrots the results indicated a very marked 

 protective action. Four tenths to 0.6 c.c. oil of chenopodium per 

 kilo fed to rabbits on such a diet usually failed to indicate the 

 presence of renal irritation. Albumin and casts seldom appeared 

 in the urine especially when a sufficient amount of carrots was 

 consumed. The functional efficiency as tested by the elimination 

 of phenolsulphophthalein did not show any evidence of impair- 

 ment in rabbits and dogs. The permeability of the kidney 

 is distinctly interfered with, however, in poisoning with oil of 

 chenopodium. We found that fat soluble dyes may pass into 

 the urine of normal rabbits. But when chenopodium is given at 



