Risk assessment for pyrrolizidine alkaloids detected in (herbal) teas and plant food supplements

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Heliotropium

Investigation of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Heliotropium arbainense resulted in the isolation and identification of heliotrine, europine and 7-angelylheliotrine. From H. ovalifolium three alkaloids were isolated: supinine, 7-angelylheliotridine and an alkaloid which was shown to be of the heliotridine monoester type with a dehydrated viridifloric acid.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in human diet.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are the leading plant toxins associated with disease in humans and animals. Upon ingestion, metabolic activation in liver converts the parent compounds into highly reactive electrophiles capable of reacting with cellular macromolecules forming adducts which may initiate acute or chronic toxicity. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids present a serious health risk to human populati...

LUPIN ALKALOIDS IN FOOD A Toxicological Review and Risk Assessment

Review on Herbal Teas

Herbal tea is essentially an herbal mixture made from leaves, seeds and/ or roots of various plants. As per popular misconception, they are not derived from the usual tea plants, but rather from what are called as ‘tisanes’. There are several kinds of tisanes (herbal teas) that have been used for their medicinal properties. Some of them being consumed for its energizing properties to help induc...

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey and bee pollen.

A total of 3917 honey samples and 119 'bee pollen' samples (pollen collected by honeybees) were analysed for pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Some 0.05 M sulphuric acid was used for extraction followed by a clean-up step by means of solid-phase extraction. Separation and detection was achieved by target analysis using an LC-MS/MS system. PAs were found in 66% of the raw honeys (bulk honey not yet...