| It is known that generalist herbivores may circumvent intoxication by ingesting small quantities from a mixture of plant secondary metabolites. However a single chemical, a highly toxic one or the most abundant in the mixture could cause toxicity. Survivorship and toxicity in Rockland male mice were measured to determine if the toxic effects of the phenolic resin of creosote bush (Larrea divaricata Cav.) is due to its major constituent, the nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or to the total concentration of phenolic compounds in this resin. This objective was accomplished by exposing mice to voluntary feeding on resin-treated rat chow and by oral gavaging of mice with the following doses and compounds: Resin-100 mg (n = 7), NDGA-15 mg (n = 8), and NDGA-100... |
