White lupine Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 5 min read| 4,512 found this helpful

Toxicity varies by cultivar: sweet lupines have low alkaloid content (0.01-0.1%), while bitter and mold-infested lupines are highly to severely toxic

Toxic alkaloids are not deactivated by drying or storage, and remain biologically active in the milk of exposed animals

Ingestion by pregnant ruminants between day 38 and 70 of gestation causes teratogenic effects including limb and spinal deformities in offspring

FAQ

Is White lupine toxic to Humans?

Limited human toxicity data available; potential effects include gastrointestinal distress, neurological impairment, and teratogenic risk if consumed during pregnancy (Moderate)

Is White lupine toxic to Cats?

No specific feline toxicity data documented; ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, and potential neurological signs at high doses (Low)

Is White lupine toxic to Dogs?

No specific canine toxicity data documented; ingestion may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and neurological symptoms if large quantities are consumed (Low)

Is White lupine toxic to Horses?

No specific equine toxicity data documented; potential effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, neurological impairment, and reproductive risks for pregnant mares (Moderate)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Moderate

Limited human toxicity data available; potential effects include gastrointestinal distress, neurological impairment, and teratogenic risk if consumed during pregnancy

Cats

Low

No specific feline toxicity data documented; ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, and potential neurological signs at high doses

Dogs

Low

No specific canine toxicity data documented; ingestion may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and neurological symptoms if large quantities are consumed

Horses

Moderate

No specific equine toxicity data documented; potential effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, neurological impairment, and reproductive risks for pregnant mares

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsWhole plant, especially seeds and pods; alkaloid toxicity remains active in dried forage

Exposure RouteIngestion of fresh plant material, dried forage, contaminated seeds, or milk from animals that consumed toxic lupines

Toxic CompoundsQuinolizidine alkaloids (lupanine, lupinine, 13α-hydroxylupanine, sparteine, anagyrine, baptifoline, cytisine, N-methylcytisine, thermopsine); Piperidine alkaloids (ammodendrine, N-acetylhystrine, N-methylammodendrine); Gramine (indole alkaloid); Mycotoxins (present in mold-infested specimens)

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Induce vomiting if ingestion occurred within 2 hours and the affected individual is conscious with no neurological signs
• Administer activated charcoal to bind unabsorbed toxic alkaloids
• Remove all remaining lupine plant material from the exposure area to prevent further ingestion

Contact Vet Immediately

• Any ingestion of bitter or mold-infested white lupine, or large quantities of sweet lupine by pets or livestock
• Presence of neurological signs, gastrointestinal distress, or exposure of a pregnant animal to lupine
• Observed limb or spinal deformities in newborn livestock whose dam had access to lupine during gestation

Prevention

• Restrict access of pets, livestock and birds to white lupine plants, especially bitter cultivars and mold-infested stands
• Test cultivated lupine forage for alkaloid content before feeding to livestock, especially pregnant ruminants
• Avoid feeding dried lupine forage of unknown cultivar origin, as alkaloids are not deactivated by drying

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform decontamination procedures (emesis, activated charcoal, cathartics) as appropriate for species and exposure timeline
• Provide symptomatic supportive care: fluid therapy, management of neurological signs, correction of dehydration
• Monitor pregnant animals for teratogenic effects in offspring, provide supportive care for newborns with mild deformities

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameLupinus albus L. (syn. Lupinus sativus Gaertn.)

AliasesWhite wolf bean、Sweet lupine (low-alkaloid cultivar)、Bitter lupine (high-alkaloid cultivar)

Toxicity Grade

HumansModerate

CatsLow

DogsLow

HorsesModerate

Target Organs

Nervous systemReproductive systemGastrointestinal tractFetal skeletal system

Mechanism of Action

• Quinolizidine, piperidine and indole alkaloids exert neurotoxic effects leading to acute lupinism

• Anagyrine and piperidine alkaloids act as teratogens when consumed by ruminants in mid-gestation, disrupting fetal skeletal development

• Alkaloids remain biologically active through drying, storage, and passage through lactating animals' digestive tracts

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Birds: Severe toxicity; even small ingestion amounts can cause fatal poisoning

Goats, sheep, cattle: Moderate to severe toxicity; mid-gestation ingestion causes 'crooked calf disease' with spinal/limb deformities and cleft palate in offspring; acute neurological lupinism possible at high doses

Milk-consuming animals and humans: Secondary exposure risk, as toxic alkaloids remain active in milk of animals that consumed toxic lupines

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Yellow lupine Lupinus luteus L.

Similar growth form and habitat to white lupine; high gramine alkaloid content gives it a high toxicity profile

Narrow-leafed lupine Lupinus angustifolius L.

Closely related cultivated lupine with overlapping range, nearly identical visual features and similar alkaloid toxicity

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Related Toxic Plants

Golden chain tree

Laburnum anagyroides Medik.

High to Severe, especially for small children and small animals

Chinese wisteria

Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC.

Moderate to High, toxic to humans, dogs and cats

Wild blue lupine

Lupinus perennis L.

Moderate to High, contains high levels of toxic quinolizidine alkaloids

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.