Abstract
In March 2000, the owners of a farm breeding 9 Japanese Black Cattle cut branches from trees near the cow barn to use as bedding for the animals. About 12 hours after lying on the bedding, 5 of the cattle exhibited neurological symptoms. Three of them died within about 60 hours. Autopsy revealed large numbers of Illicium religiosum leaves in the contents of their first stomachs. Furthermore 0.5mg/g of anisatin was detected in the leaves. Administration of Illicium religiosum leaf extract to mice resulted in such neurological symptoms as pilo-erection, something like vomiting, straddling posture, and gait abnormalities. On the basis of these findings, the cattle were diagnosed as having contracted Illicium religiosum poisoning.
