Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the spotlight
by Nadja Flüchter, Dr. Susanne Rathjen, Simone Staiger, Dr. Scarlett Biselli, Eurofins Germany
In July the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) issued a statement (No. 018/2013) regarding pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). In an ongoing and so far non-representative research project, unexpectedly high PA concentrations were found in a couple of herbal infusions and tea samples. However, concentrations can vary considerably due to inhomogeneous distribution of PAs. More data are needed to produce a reliable and comprehensive health risk assessment.
PAs are secondary metabolic products, formed for protection against herbivores by an estimated 6000 plant species - 3 % of all blooming plants. More than 500 different PAs and corresponding N-oxides are known, some of them being extremely toxic.
PAs are mainly found in the distantly related angiosperm families of the Boraginaceae (all genera), Asteraceae (tribes Senecioneae and Eupatorieae) and Fabaceae (genus Crotalaria). Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.) belongs to the most relevant plants.
Eurofins offers analysis for the presence of PAs and N-oxides using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method can be applied to all relevant food and feed matrices, such as honey, tea and herbal infusions, herbs, borage oils and feed. The scope of the method covers all 17 PAs and N-oxides addressed in the BfR study for which reference standards are commercially available.
Contact: NadjaFluechter@eurofins.de
