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The principal substance in Narthecium ossifragum (L.) Huds. responsible for the nephrotoxic effects on cattle, moose, goats and other ruminants has been isolated and identified by X-ray crystallography as 3-methoxy-2(5H)-furanone. The Fourier-transform infra-red, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectra are also given. The concentration in four different batches of plant material varied from 113 to 344 Mug g-1 (wet weight). Extracts of N. ossifragum and fractions derived from them, including purified 3-methoxy-2(5H)-furanone, were each dosed intraruminally, to younggoats. 3-Methoxy-2(5H)-furanone of 99.9 % purity (15 mg kg-1 live weight) caused increased concentration of creatinine in serum within 2-3 days, typical of kidney damage caused by N. ossifragum, while toxic effect was obtained down to 4 mg kg-1 live weight with less purified material (=/>95 %). Toxic effect was also obtained with synthesized 3-methoxy-2(5H)-furanone (30 mg kg-1live weight). The isomer 4-methoxy-2(5H)-furanone, detected in some of the batches of the plant material, was not toxic when dosed at 60 mg kg-1 live weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]