The Spearmint Extract L-carvone as a Euthanasia Agent in Sheep

Clicks: 1
ID: 320665
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #64 of 65 articles by views in Translational animal science

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract L-carvone is a natural monoterpene found in spearmint and other foods that can be administered intravenously to euthanize rats. We hypothesized intravenous L-carvone rapidly alters consciousness and produces death in sheep, resulting in tissue L-carvone concentrations that are commonly found in foods. Jugular catheters were placed in five adult Hampshire-Suffolk ewes, and a carotid arterial catheter was inadvertently placed in a sixth ewe. Animals were restrained in a seated position and instrumented with surface electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic electrodes and a two-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) accompanied by pulse and respiratory rate and behavioral monitoring. A 50% solution of food-grade L-carvone administered as a rapid intravenous bolus at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg was followed by bilateral ocular strabismus, loss of responsiveness, shallow breathing, and a 50% reduction in heart rate within 6 ±4 seconds (mean ±SD). In 4 sheep, myoclonus and increased muscle tone was present for 15-54 seconds after injection. Pulses were undetectable within 20 ±9 seconds, and animals were apneic in 48 ±14 seconds and without cardiac electrical activity 46 ±19 seconds after injection. During this time, the EEG spectral edge frequency rapidly decreased, indicative of progressively altered consciousness and deepening anesthesia. Intermittent, large amplitude polyspike waves were observed on the EEGs of most sheep, consistent with seizure activity. Intra-arterial L-carvone injection yielded quantitatively similar results except for persistence of ECG electromechanical dissociation for several minutes after death. Sheep tissues collected after euthanasia were analyzed for L-carvone by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. For intravenous doses, L-carvone concentrations ranged from 283 ±155 in the kidney to 2.2 ±1.6 in the semitendinosus muscle. Intravascular L-carvone produces rapid onset of unconsciousness and irreversible death in sheep without contaminating the carcass with non-edible residues. However, increased muscle tone and EEG seizure activity make L-carvone imperfect for euthanasia when administered as a sole agent.
Reference Key
openalex_W7168017435 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Robert J. Brosnan, Monica Aleman, Lais B.A. Costa, H. Knych, Adrien Dupanloup, Ujwala Vedavally, Chelsea Unkel
Journal Translational animal science
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/tas/txag103
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag103
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.