swainsonine

Swainsonine is an indolizidine alkaloid that disrupts glycosylation by inhibiting Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, an enzyme critical for processing glycoproteins.

Found in toxic plants like locoweed (Astragalus and Oxytropis), it causes locoism in livestock, marked by neurological symptoms, erratic behavior, weight loss, and reproductive issues.

Chronic exposure leads to lysosomal storage disorders due to impaired glycoprotein metabolism.

Swainsonine mimics sugars, making it a candidate for chemotherapy and treatments for metabolic disorders.

Cattle grazing on locoweed often suffer swainsonine poisoning.