A Crystalline " Lathyrus Factor " from Lathyrus odoratus.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to isolate the toxic factor from crude Lathyrus odoratus meal. Rats were used in assays for the toxic factor, and the presence of skeletal deformities as revealed by x-ray was used as the chief criterion of lathyrus toxicity. A crystalline substance was isolated which produced bony changes exactly similar to those seen in rats fed the toxic meal. Analyses of the purified toxic factor agreed with the formula C 8 H 13 O 3 N 3 .