There are several secondary metabolites in plants that have been shown to have poisonous effects on neonatal and fetal development. The effects of these metabolites range from slight (such as a temporarily decrease in fertility) to intense (so strong as to cause pre-term abortion or a stillbirth).
Certain plants cause fetal deficiency in animals including various types of veratrum- Lupines-Coniuum- Nicotiana- Astragalus-Oxytropis.
In many cases, secondary combinatory effects cause fetal deficiencies such as in the steroid alkaloids, Quinolizydine and piperdin.