Lupine alkaloids

More than 170 lupine alkaloids have been identified.^[1] The primary alkaloid is lupinin. Other notable compounds include lupanine, lupinine, lupanolin^[2] and sparteine.^[1] (-)-Lupanine is found in the white lupin, while (+)-lupanine is present in the blue lupin.^[3][4][5] Both (+)-sparteine and (-)-sparteine occur naturally.^[6] (-)-cytisine, the primary alkaloid of the laburnum, is also classified as a lupine alkaloid.^[7]

• 
  (−)-Lupinin
• 
  (+)-Lupanin
• 
  (−)-Lupanine
• 
  (+)-Sparteine
• 
  (−)-Spartein
• 
  (−)-Cytisin

Lupine alkaloids are considered toxic. Grazing animals should not ingest more than 60 g/kg. Symptoms of poisoning include liver and kidney degeneration, miscarriages, and congenital deformities. Sheep are particularly sensitive to these toxins.^[2]