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Poisonous Plants and Related Toxins
308
Book reviews
with hormonal aspects of stress and endocrine applications in toxicology. In addition, the discussion of applications of pheromones in vertebrates, including farm animals, rodents and fish, and insects, fills much of this chapter. In general, the book is well structured and didactically well presented. This is especially evident in the question boxes at the end of each chapter which require the reader to think about the facts discussed in the respective chapters. In addition, the author perfectly understands how to involve the reader by permanently asking and answering questions on how certain suspected hormone effects can be proven experimentally. Although the book bears the character of a textbook, it is not only interesting for students but also for all those who want to obtain a comprehensive overview on applied animal endocrinology. Key references for further reading facilitate access to special issues for the reader. Finally, it must be stressed that many aspects of nutrient utilization in relation to hormone effects are covered by the book. Therefore, it is also a valuable complementary reference book for animal nutritionists. Sven Dänicke Institute of Animal Nutrition Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) Bundesallee 50, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-596-3136; fax: +49-531-596-3199 E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Dänicke) doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.01.002
Poisonous Plants and Related Toxins T. Acamovic, C.S. Stewart, T.W. Pennycott, CAB International, 2004, 586 pp., Price £75.00 (US$ 140.00), Hardback, ISBN 0 85199 614 0 The book contains most of the papers presented at the 6th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants, held in Scotland in August 2001. However, the book is more than just a bound collection of papers since manuscripts were refereed and edited prior to being included in the book, and the final collection completed with an index. The latter is especially valuable for all those interested in special issues since editors made no attempt to put the 86 contributions under special subheadings. This was probably not appropriate because of the diversity of substances dealt with in the particular papers. Moreover, all these substances were considered from different viewpoints, such as identification, analysis and isolation, toxicity in laboratory and farm animals and carry over into foodstuffs of animal origin. The book is an update of what we know about poisonous plants and related toxins and what still waits to be elucidated. The title of the book even makes gaps in our knowledge apparent, since not all observed toxic effects in farm animals after ingestion of “poisonous plant” can be related to a particular toxin. Moreover, the term “related toxins” does not only cover the toxins which are of plant origin but includes also toxins which are closely associated to plants but which originate from moulds or bacteria, i.e., mycotoxins and bacterial toxins.
Book reviews
309
For the reasons mentioned, the book is a useful collection not only for toxicologists but also for animal nutritionists interested in toxicological issues associated with feedstuffs. Sven Dänicke Institute of Animal Nutrition, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Bundesallee 50 D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-596-3136; fax: +49-531-596-3199 E-mail address: [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.01.001
Handbook of Secondary Fungal Metabolites, 3 Volume Set, R.J. Cole, M.A. Schweikert, B.B. Jarvis, Academic Press, Amsterdam, 2003, 2544 pp., £195.00, Hardback, ISBN 0121794601 The “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites” by R.J. Cole and R.H. Cox published in 1981 was the standard reference work for researchers dealing with mycotoxins until now. This handbook was primarily oriented toward fungal metabolites that elicit a toxic response in vertebrate animals. The new “Handbook of Secondary Fungal Metabolites” in three volumes includes all major groups of secondary fungal metabolites. The format is similar to that of “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites.” The book is divided into sections, and the placement of metabolites is based on chemical relationships. Each volume contains a section “Miscellaneous Metabolites” to accommodate metabolites difficult to place into one of the sections. Four indexes (secondary metabolite index, molecular formula index, molecular weight index and fungal/plant source index) complete each volume. Among others, the following sections are included in the book: • Volume 1 (25 sections): indole alkaloids, diketopiperazines, chaetoglobosins/cytochalasins, paspaline and related metabolites, penitrems/lolitrems, aflatoxins; sterigmatocystin and related metabolites; • Volume 2 (30 sections): sterols, ganoderic acids, fusidanes and protostanes, hebevinosides and hebelomic acids; • Volume 3 (23 sections): palmarumycins, trichothecenes and related metabolites, stachybotrylactone and related metabolites, fumonisins, AAL toxins and related metabolites, ochratoxins and related metabolites. Unfortunately, in contrast to the “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites,” there is no introduction at the beginning of a section, only an index of the included metabolites. Therefore, general information about the occurrence and significance of the respective group of metabolites and about reviews is missing. The following data is presented for each metabolite where available: • common/systematic name; • molecular formula/molecular weight;
Book reviews
with hormonal aspects of stress and endocrine applications in toxicology. In addition, the discussion of applications of pheromones in vertebrates, including farm animals, rodents and fish, and insects, fills much of this chapter. In general, the book is well structured and didactically well presented. This is especially evident in the question boxes at the end of each chapter which require the reader to think about the facts discussed in the respective chapters. In addition, the author perfectly understands how to involve the reader by permanently asking and answering questions on how certain suspected hormone effects can be proven experimentally. Although the book bears the character of a textbook, it is not only interesting for students but also for all those who want to obtain a comprehensive overview on applied animal endocrinology. Key references for further reading facilitate access to special issues for the reader. Finally, it must be stressed that many aspects of nutrient utilization in relation to hormone effects are covered by the book. Therefore, it is also a valuable complementary reference book for animal nutritionists. Sven Dänicke Institute of Animal Nutrition Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) Bundesallee 50, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-596-3136; fax: +49-531-596-3199 E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Dänicke) doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.01.002
Poisonous Plants and Related Toxins T. Acamovic, C.S. Stewart, T.W. Pennycott, CAB International, 2004, 586 pp., Price £75.00 (US$ 140.00), Hardback, ISBN 0 85199 614 0 The book contains most of the papers presented at the 6th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants, held in Scotland in August 2001. However, the book is more than just a bound collection of papers since manuscripts were refereed and edited prior to being included in the book, and the final collection completed with an index. The latter is especially valuable for all those interested in special issues since editors made no attempt to put the 86 contributions under special subheadings. This was probably not appropriate because of the diversity of substances dealt with in the particular papers. Moreover, all these substances were considered from different viewpoints, such as identification, analysis and isolation, toxicity in laboratory and farm animals and carry over into foodstuffs of animal origin. The book is an update of what we know about poisonous plants and related toxins and what still waits to be elucidated. The title of the book even makes gaps in our knowledge apparent, since not all observed toxic effects in farm animals after ingestion of “poisonous plant” can be related to a particular toxin. Moreover, the term “related toxins” does not only cover the toxins which are of plant origin but includes also toxins which are closely associated to plants but which originate from moulds or bacteria, i.e., mycotoxins and bacterial toxins.
Book reviews
309
For the reasons mentioned, the book is a useful collection not only for toxicologists but also for animal nutritionists interested in toxicological issues associated with feedstuffs. Sven Dänicke Institute of Animal Nutrition, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Bundesallee 50 D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany Tel.: +49-531-596-3136; fax: +49-531-596-3199 E-mail address: [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.01.001
Handbook of Secondary Fungal Metabolites, 3 Volume Set, R.J. Cole, M.A. Schweikert, B.B. Jarvis, Academic Press, Amsterdam, 2003, 2544 pp., £195.00, Hardback, ISBN 0121794601 The “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites” by R.J. Cole and R.H. Cox published in 1981 was the standard reference work for researchers dealing with mycotoxins until now. This handbook was primarily oriented toward fungal metabolites that elicit a toxic response in vertebrate animals. The new “Handbook of Secondary Fungal Metabolites” in three volumes includes all major groups of secondary fungal metabolites. The format is similar to that of “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites.” The book is divided into sections, and the placement of metabolites is based on chemical relationships. Each volume contains a section “Miscellaneous Metabolites” to accommodate metabolites difficult to place into one of the sections. Four indexes (secondary metabolite index, molecular formula index, molecular weight index and fungal/plant source index) complete each volume. Among others, the following sections are included in the book: • Volume 1 (25 sections): indole alkaloids, diketopiperazines, chaetoglobosins/cytochalasins, paspaline and related metabolites, penitrems/lolitrems, aflatoxins; sterigmatocystin and related metabolites; • Volume 2 (30 sections): sterols, ganoderic acids, fusidanes and protostanes, hebevinosides and hebelomic acids; • Volume 3 (23 sections): palmarumycins, trichothecenes and related metabolites, stachybotrylactone and related metabolites, fumonisins, AAL toxins and related metabolites, ochratoxins and related metabolites. Unfortunately, in contrast to the “Handbook of Toxic Fungal Metabolites,” there is no introduction at the beginning of a section, only an index of the included metabolites. Therefore, general information about the occurrence and significance of the respective group of metabolites and about reviews is missing. The following data is presented for each metabolite where available: • common/systematic name; • molecular formula/molecular weight;