E X T O X N E T
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Pesticide
Information
Profile
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Scilliroside
Publication Date: 9/95
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TRADE OR OTHER NAMES
Trade names for products containing scilliroside include Silmine,
Silmurin, Red Squill, Rodine, Topzol Rat Baits and Killing Syrup, Rat-o-Cide,
and Rodene.
REGULATORY STATUS
Scilliroside production was discontinued worldwide in 1980. It was a
Restricted Use Pesticide. It was registered in the U.S. for control of the
Norway rat (1).
INTRODUCTION
Scilliroside is a rodenticide in the glycoside family of chemicals (5).
It is a botanical compound extracted from the bulb of the Mediterranean squill
plant (3). Most effective against Norway rats, it was also used to control
black rats, house mice, long-tailed field mice, and field voles (2). The EPA
classified it as Toxicity Class I- highly toxic. Products containing
scilliroside bore the Signal Word "Caution" (1). It was available as a ready-
to-use bait or as granules.
TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACUTE TOXICITY
Scilliroside is a highly toxic chemical. The dose at which half of the
test animals die, the oral LD50, is 0.43 mg/kg for female rats, 0.7 mg/kg for
male rats, and 0.35 mg/kg for mice (1, 6). Pigs and cats survived doses of 16
mg/kg (1). Scilliroside is irritating to the skin (2).
Scilliroside affects heart muscle contractions. It is also a potent
emetic in most mammals, causing them to vomit and avoid absorbing the toxin.
It is specifically toxic to continuous feeders like rats because of their
inability to vomit. Rats are relatively resistant to the cardiac actions of
scilliroside. Instead, they show protracted convulsions and muscular weakness
at doses of 1.5-2.0 mg/kg intraveneously. Cardiac glycosides, like
scilliroside, may also cause nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain,
confusion or convulsions.
CHRONIC TOXICITY
Reproductive Effects
Newborn and young infant heart muscles are less susceptible than adults
to the effects of cardiac glycosides such as scilliroside (7).
Teratogenic Effects
No information currently available.
Mutagenic Effects
No information currently available.
Carcinogenic Effects
No information currently available.
Organ Toxicity
Scilliroside is a cardiac glycoside, so it can cause abnormal hearbeat
rhythms. It may also affect the nervous system and secretory organs (7).
Fate in Humans and Animals
Cardiac glycosides, such as scilliroside, are metabolized by the liver,
excreted into the intestine and then absorbed into the blood. Intestinal flora
may also play a role in metabolism, causing large variations in fate among
exposed individuals. It may also be eliminated, unmetabolized by the kidney.
The half-life in the body is from five to six days (7).
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Effects on Birds
Scilliroside is moderately toxic to some birds. Fowl survive doses of 400
mg/kg/day (1). Certain birds learn to avoid insects contaminated with
scilliroside because of its strong emetic characteristic (8).
Effects on Aquatic Organisms
No information currently available.
Effects on Other Animals (Nontarget species)
Scilliroside is not toxic to many mammal species because of its strong
emetic characteristic (1).
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Breakdown of Chemical in Soil and Groundwater
No information currently available.
Breakdown of Chemical in Surface Water
No information currently available.
Breakdown of Chemical in Vegetation
No information currently available.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND GUIDELINES
Scilliroside is a bright yellow crystalline solid. It is hydroscopic and
non-corrosive (4). Scilliroside is sensitive to heat and should be used at
temperatures below 80 degrees C. Its shelf life is one to five years if it is
protected from strong light and low pH conditions (8).
Physical Properties:
| CAS#: | 507-60-8 |
| Chemical Name: | 3B, 6-B-6-acetyloxy-3-(Beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-8,14-dihydroxybufa-4,20,22-trienolide |
| Melting Point: | 168-170 degrees C |
| Solubility in water: | Slight solubility in water |
| Solubility in other solvents: | Soluble in alcohols, ethylene gylcol, dioxane, and glacial acetic acid. Practically insoluble in diethyl ether and petroleum ether |
Exposure Guidelines:
No information currently available.
BASIC MANUFACTURER
Scilliroside is no longer produced.
REFERENCES
Meister, R.T. 1992. Farm Chemicals Handbook '92. Meister Publishing
Company. Willoughby, OH.
Thomson, W. T. 1981. Agricultural Chemicals Book III Fumigants, Growth
Regulators, Repellents, and Rodenticides. Thomson Publications. Fresno, CA.
Ware, G. W. 1986. Fundamentals of Pesticides- A Self Instruction
Guide, Second edition. Thomson Publications. Fresno, CA.
The Agrochemicals Handbook, Third Edition. 1994. Royal Society of
Chemistry Information Systems, Unwin Brothers Ltd., Surrey, England.
Hayes Jr., Wayland, and E. R. Laws, Jr., (eds.) 1991. Handbook of
Pesticide Toxicology. Academic Press, Inc. New York, NY.
Sax, N. I. 1984. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, Sixth
edition. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New York, NY.
Wingard, Lemuel, T Brody et. al. 1991. Human Pharmacology Molecular-
to-Clinical. Mosby Year Book . Baltimore, MD.
Katzung, B.G. 1987. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, Third Edition.
Appleton and Lange. Norwalk, CT.
Disclaimer: Please read
the pesticide label prior to use. The information contained at this web
site is not a substitute for a pesticide label. Trade names used herein
are for convenience only; no endorsement of products is intended, nor is
criticism of unnamed products implied. Most of this information is historical
in nature and may no longer be applicable.
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