Narrow-leafed lupine Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 4 min read| 2,862 found this helpful

Toxicity ranges from moderate (sweet lupine cultivars, 0.01-0.1% total alkaloids) to high (bitter lupines, fungus-infected plants), with severe fatal toxicity for birds

Contains toxic alkaloids that are not inactivated by drying, storage, or processing, and can be transmitted to offspring via milk from exposed animals

Ingestion by pregnant ruminants between 38-70 days of gestation causes severe congenital birth defects including limb and spinal deformities in offspring

FAQ

Is Narrow-leafed lupine toxic to Humans?

No confirmed human toxicity cases reported in referenced dataset; large ingestion may cause nausea, dizziness, or neurological symptoms, seek medical care if exposure occurs (Low)

Is Narrow-leafed lupine toxic to Cats?

No species-specific feline toxicity data available; monitor for drooling, lethargy, or abnormal behavior if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately (Low)

Is Narrow-leafed lupine toxic to Dogs?

No species-specific canine toxicity data available; monitor for vomiting, disorientation, or seizures if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately (Low)

Is Narrow-leafed lupine toxic to Horses?

No species-specific equine toxicity data available; monitor for incoordination, tremors, or feed refusal if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately (Low)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

No confirmed human toxicity cases reported in referenced dataset; large ingestion may cause nausea, dizziness, or neurological symptoms, seek medical care if exposure occurs

Cats

Low

No species-specific feline toxicity data available; monitor for drooling, lethargy, or abnormal behavior if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately

Dogs

Low

No species-specific canine toxicity data available; monitor for vomiting, disorientation, or seizures if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately

Horses

Low

No species-specific equine toxicity data available; monitor for incoordination, tremors, or feed refusal if ingestion is suspected, consult a veterinarian immediately

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsEntire plant, especially seeds and pods; alkaloid toxicity remains fully active in dried forage and hay

Exposure RouteIngestion of raw or dried plant material, consumption of milk from animals that fed on lupine

Toxic CompoundsQuinolizidine alkaloids: lupanine, lupinine, 13α-hydroxylupanine, sparteine, anagyrine, baptifoline, cytisine, N-methylcytisine, thermopsin; Piperidine alkaloids: ammodendrine, N-acetylhystrine, N-methylammodendrine; Indole alkaloid: gramine; Mycotoxins (present in fungus-infected specimens)

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Remove any remaining plant material from the mouth of the exposed person/animal
• Collect a sample of the ingested plant for accurate identification to guide care
• Induce vomiting only if explicitly directed by a medical or veterinary professional, within 1 hour of ingestion

Contact Vet Immediately

• Any suspected ingestion, especially by pregnant animals or young children/pets
• Onset of neurological symptoms, abnormal movement, or difficulty eating after exposure
• If a pregnant ruminant is confirmed to have eaten lupine material during early to mid-gestation

Prevention

• Do not feed untreated lupine forage to livestock, especially pregnant animals between 30-80 days of gestation
• Ensure sweet lupine cultivars used for feed meet low alkaloid standards (≤0.1% total alkaloid content)
• Remove wild lupine plants from pastures, gardens, and areas accessible to pets and small children

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform gastrointestinal decontamination (activated charcoal, gastric lavage) as clinically indicated
• Provide supportive symptomatic care including pain management, fluid therapy, and neurological monitoring
• Monitor fetal development in exposed pregnant animals, and screen newborns of exposed mothers for congenital defects

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameLupinus angustifolius L.

AliasesBlue lupine、European blue lupine、Narrow-leaved lupin、European blue lupin

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsLow

DogsLow

HorsesLow

Target Organs

Nervous systemReproductive systemFetal musculoskeletal systemGastrointestinal tract

Mechanism of Action

• Alkaloids exert neurotoxic effects that trigger acute neurological syndrome (lupinism) in susceptible species

• Anagyrine and piperidine alkaloids interfere with fetal developmental pathways during early to mid-gestation, causing congenital malformations

• Toxic alkaloids resist degradation by heat, drying, or storage, and can bioaccumulate in milk of exposed animals

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Birds: Severe (+++) toxicity, ingestion of even small amounts may be fatal

Sheep, goats, cattle: Moderate (+) to high (++) toxicity; ingestion causes acute neurological lupinism, and exposure in early to mid-gestation causes teratogenic effects including spinal deformities, limb contractures, and cleft palate in offspring

Newborn ruminant calves: Only mild forelimb contractures may resolve spontaneously; severe congenital defects are typically fatal or require euthanasia

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Other lupine species Lupinus spp.

All Lupinus species share highly similar leaf, flower, and pod morphology, and most contain comparable toxic alkaloid profiles, making differentiation difficult without specialized botanical expertise

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Related Toxic Plants

Black locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

High

Common laburnum

Laburnum anagyroides

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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.