Crotalaria medicaginea
Crotalaria medicaginea
Safety & Hazards
No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this genus are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, the most potent of which in this genus are monocrotaline, retrorsine and retronecine[ 1309 Title The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation Publication Author Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. Publisher University of Wisconsin Year 1981 ISBN 0-333-32221-5 Description An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus. ]. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional consumption is generally completely safe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many of these alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].
Botanical Description
Crotalaria medicaginea is a prostrate to erect perennial plant with slender, branched stems that can become more or less woody and persist; it can grow 15 - 50cm tall[ 1343 Title Crotalaria L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae) in continental Southeast Asia Publication Phytotaxa 320 (1): 001-074 Author Ninkaew S.; Balslev H.; Pornpongrungrueng P.; Chantaranothai Publisher Year 2017 ISBN 978-1-77670-218-3 Description ]. The plant grows from a thick rootstock, often forming a large, flat rosette of growth. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.