Article
Food Science & Technology
Lu Chen, Qian Zhang, Ziwei Yi, Yu Chen, Weihan Xiao, Dan Su, Wenbiao Shi
Summary: This study analyzed 68 individual 1,2-unsaturated PA in 21 types of (herbal) teas using LC-MS/MS and applied REP factors to assess the risks, indicating potential concerns for consuming certain teas.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junchi Wang, Meng Zhang, Lihua Chen, Yue Qiao, Siqi Ma, Dian Sun, Jianyong Si, Yonghong Liao
Summary: The study detected Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in Chinese herbal medicines using UPLC-MS/MS, finding that most samples contained PAs, with some exceeding the safety baseline, indicating potential health risks.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zinar Pinar Gumus
Summary: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a defense mechanism against insects, but they can be toxic to humans. Therefore, it is important to determine the levels of these alkaloids in tea and culinary plants to ensure food safety. This study analyzed the levels of various alkaloids in herbal teas and culinary herbs sold in Turkish markets. The results highlight the need for routine analysis of these substances in plant-based products to ensure food safety.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Serena Rizzo, Rita Celano, Anna Lisa Piccinelli, Mariateresa Russo, Luca Rastrelli
Summary: An analytical procedure for the screening and determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in food supplements, herbal infusions, honey, and teas was successfully validated. The study found that 10% of the analyzed samples were contaminated above the maximum levels (MLs) set by European legislation. Contamination of herbal infusions of mixed plants raised potential health concerns, with 23% showing PA levels above ML. Although a high number of PAs not included in the regulation were detected in honey and herbal food supplements, their contribution to overall levels in honey was not significant.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yujihn Kwon, Yongeui Koo, Yoonhwa Jeong
Summary: This study developed an analytical method to determine pyrrolizidine alkaloids in teas using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with rapid-easy extraction. The method showed excellent repeatability, sensitivity, and reproducibility, and could be applied to various tea samples. Overall, the method allows complete separation of lycopsamine and intermedine peaks, making it useful for monitoring pyrrolizidine alkaloids in teas.
Review
Plant Sciences
Jacqueline Wiesner
Summary: The toxicity of plants containing certain pyrrolizidine alkaloids has been recognized for a long time, leading to regulatory action on herbal medicinal products. In addition to the plants themselves, contamination from accessory herbs has been identified, leading to limits being set for all herbal medicinal products by regulatory authorities.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marianna Martinello, Chiara Manzinello, Albino Gallina, Franco Mutinelli
Summary: Two analytical methods for quantification of PAs and TAs in honey bee-collected pollen, teas, and herbal infusions were developed and validated. The methods showed good linearity, accuracy, and robustness. The results of a preliminary investigation revealed that about half of the pollen samples contained PAs below the maximum limit, while two samples were contaminated with TAs. One-third of teas or herbal infusions contained PAs or TAs, with one sample exceeding the EU limits for both PAs and TAs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Nuria Leon, Pablo Miralles, Vicent Yusa, Clara Coscolla
Summary: A green analytical method has been developed to determine the levels of 30 tropane and pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides in dried teas and herbs. The method combines the QuEChERS procedure with LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis. The method has been validated and shown to have satisfactory performance in different tea and herb matrices. The results also demonstrate that the analyzed tea and herb samples comply with European regulations.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2022)
Review
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ruo-lan Li, Qing Zhang, Jia Liu, Li-ying He, Qin-wan Huang, Wei Peng, Chun-jie Wu
Summary: The processing of Chinese herbal medicine is a crucial step in traditional Chinese medicine, aiming to enhance the efficacy and reduce toxicity of herbs. Common processing methods include cleansing, cutting, dry stir-frying, stir-frying with liquid adjuvants, and water decoction, with main chemical reactions like hydrolysis, oxidation, replacement, decomposition, and condensation occurring during the process. This study provides theoretical support and scientific evidence for understanding the mechanisms and effects of processing alkaloid-rich Chinese herbal medicines.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE-JIM
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Barbara Steinhoff
Summary: This review provides an overview of the legal requirements for testing potential contaminants in herbal drugs, including pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbiological purity, aflatoxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It also discusses the decrease of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal drugs over the past few years, while acknowledging that the issue cannot be completely solved in the near future.
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Martins Jansons, Deniss Fedorenko, Romans Pavlenko, Zane Berzina, Vadims Bartkevics
Summary: A method for the determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in tea, honey, herbal tinctures, and milk samples was developed using nano-LC-MS with high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The method demonstrated the occurrence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in 33% of honey samples and 47% of tea samples, exceeding the maximum limit in tea samples. The developed method showed advantages in sensitivity and solvent consumption reduction.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Barbara Steinhoff
Summary: In response to potential contamination of medicinal plant materials with pyrrolizidine alkaloids from weeds, suppliers and manufacturers have established measures to monitor and collect data. The results show a significant reduction in pyrrolizidine alkaloid burden in herbal drugs and extracts, indicating the effectiveness of implemented measures in reducing contamination.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ljilja Torovic, Sladana Vojvodic, Danijela Lukic, Branislava Srdenovic Conic, Sanja Bijelovic
Summary: Increased usage of herbal food supplements prompted a health risk assessment study in Serbia, which found high exposure of toddlers to copper and zinc. Although most supplements complied with the guidelines for elemental impurities, a significant proportion exceeded the acceptable level of lifetime cancer risk due to arsenic exposure. Prolonged simultaneous use of multiple supplements could further deepen health concerns.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ke Zan, Xiaowen Hu, Yaolei Li, Ying Wang, Hongyu Jin, Tiantian Zuo, Shuangcheng Ma
Summary: A new ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry technique was developed to detect eight pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Eupatorium lindleyanum, with a risk assessment method also explored. Variations were found in the levels of these alkaloids in different parts of the plant, with the highest levels in the roots followed by flowers, stems, and leaves. The risk assessment data suggested minimal harmful effects on human health with shorter exposure times during the plant's lifetime.
JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Begona Fernandez-Pintor, Natalia Casado, Sonia Morante-Zarcero, Isabel Sierra
Summary: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) have attracted attention in food safety due to their potential health risk. Tea and herbal tea, as they can be contaminated with PAs-producing weeds, have been particularly highlighted. This study simulated the cross-contamination of chamomile tea samples with weeds to evaluate the effect of brewing on PA content. The results showed that PAs are stable compounds and the initial PA concentration strongly affects their thermal stability. Not all PAs are effectively transferred from dry material to the infusion during brewing, and the extraction efficiency may be influenced by the type of weed. The study emphasizes the importance of analyzing infusion samples to correctly assess the risk exposure of consumers to PAs.