lpomoea Spp.

Abstract Ipomoea species (family Convolvulaceae) of sweet potato have partially replaced wheat flour in Latin America (4). Polynesian and Mexican traditional medicines use this species for the treatment of infectious diseases (8,11); it has also have been used as a herbicide in Mexico (10). Seeds of Ipomoea spp. are used as hallucinogens in the United States. Several tetrasaccharides, cyanidin glycosides, and alkaloids have been isolated from Ipomoea spp. (2,9,13,17,18). The alkaloids of the indolizidine and nortropane classes are glycosidase inhibitors. N-transand N-cis-Feruloyltyramines in I. aquatica and I. pes-caprae (L.) inhibit prostaglandin synthetase and arachonidate 5-lipoxygenase (12,16). Of the many alkaloids present in morning glory seeds, the most psychoactive appears to be d-lysergic acid amide (14) (see Lysergide, this volume). In sheep, Ipomoea spp. toxicity is characterized by limb paresis with knuckling of the fetlocks (3). Histological examination of brain tissue from sheep poisoned by Ipomoea spp. (Weir vine) show lesions similar to those in animals poisoned by the swainsonine-containing poison peas (see Swainsonine, this volume) of Australia and the locoweeds of North America (9). Weir vine toxicosis, a lysosomal storage disorder, has been reported in goats fed I. carnea under uncontrolled and experimental conditions (6). In humans, acute effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and paresthesias of the limb (15). Ingestion of seeds produces psychosis and visual and tactile hallucinations (5,7). Flashbacks may occur (5).