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Neuhauser C, Schwarzinger B, Schwarzinger C, Feichtinger M, Stadlbauer V, Arnaut V, Drotarova I, Blank-Landeshammer B, Weghuber J. Insulin-Mimetic Activity of Herbal Extracts Identified with Large-Scale Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy. Nutrients 2024; 16:2182. [PMID: 39064624 PMCID: PMC11280383 DOI: 10.3390/nu16142182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a spreading global pandemic. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the predominant form of diabetes, in which a reduction in blood glucose uptake is caused by impaired glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation to the plasma membrane in adipose and muscle cells. Antihyperglycemic drugs play a pivotal role in ameliorating diabetes symptoms but often are associated with side effects. Hence, novel antidiabetic compounds and nutraceutical candidates are urgently needed. Phytogenic therapy can support the prevention and amelioration of impaired glucose homeostasis. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), 772 plant extracts of an open-access plant extract library were screened for their GLUT4 translocation activation potential, resulting in 9% positive hits. Based on commercial interest and TIRFM assay-based GLUT4 translocation activation, some of these extracts were selected, and their blood glucose-reducing effects in ovo were investigated using a modified hen's egg test (Gluc-HET). To identify the active plant part, some of the available candidate plants were prepared in-house from blossoms, leaves, stems, or roots and tested. Acacia catechu (catechu), Pulmonaria officinalis (lungwort), Mentha spicata (spearmint), and Saponaria officinalis (common soapwort) revealed their potentials as antidiabetic nutraceuticals, with common soapwort containing GLUT4 translocation-activating saponarin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathrina Neuhauser
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Bettina Schwarzinger
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Clemens Schwarzinger
- Institute for Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Johannes Kepler University, 4040 Linz, Austria;
| | - Michaela Feichtinger
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
| | - Verena Stadlbauer
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Verena Arnaut
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
| | - Ivana Drotarova
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
| | - Bernhard Blank-Landeshammer
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Julian Weghuber
- Center of Excellence Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels, Austria; (C.N.); (B.S.); (M.F.); (V.S.); (V.A.); (I.D.)
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
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Berzina Z, Pavlenko R, Bartkiene E, Bartkevics V. Mycotoxins and pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal dietary supplements. FOOD ADDITIVES & CONTAMINANTS. PART B, SURVEILLANCE 2024; 17:180-192. [PMID: 38629617 DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2024.2332516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
The market demand for herbal dietary supplements is rapidly growing and such products are becoming more common and accessible to consumers. However, the knowledge about their safety remains incomplete. Herbal dietary supplements are one of the food groups that can contribute significantly to human health concerns arising from chronic exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids and mycotoxins. This study aimed to simultaneously determine 79 natural contaminants, including mycotoxins, as well as pyrrolizidine and tropane alkaloids in herbal dietary supplements in one analytical run. Exposure assessment and human health risks were assessed for all compounds included in this study. The total concentration of naturally occurring contaminants in herbal dietary supplements reached 5.3 mg kg-1 and the most frequently detected mycotoxins were tentoxin and alternariol monomethyl ether. The latter was detected with the highest frequency, reaching concentrations up to 2.5 mg kg-1. The obtained results indicate a potential risk to public health related to herbal dietary supplement consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zane Berzina
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Romans Pavlenko
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia
| | - Elena Bartkiene
- Department of Food Safety and Quality, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vadims Bartkevics
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
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3
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Schrenk D, Allemang A, Fahrer J, Harms H, Li X, Lin G, Mahony C, Mulder P, Peijnenburg A, Pfuhler S, Punt A, Sievers H, Troutman J, Widjaja F. Toxins in Botanical Drugs and Plant-derived Food and Feed - from Science to Regulation: A Workshop Review. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:219-242. [PMID: 38198805 DOI: 10.1055/a-2218-5667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
In September 2022, the 3rd International Workshop on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and related phytotoxins was held on-line, entitled 'Toxins in botanical drugs and plant-derived food and feed - from science to regulation'. The workshop focused on new findings about the occurrence, exposure, toxicity, and risk assessment of PAs. In addition, new scientific results related to the risk assessment of alkenylbenzenes, a distinct class of herbal constituents, were presented. The presence of PAs and alkenylbenzenes in plant-derived food, feed, and herbal medicines has raised health concerns with respect to their acute and chronic toxicity but mainly related to the genotoxic and carcinogenic properties of several congeners. The compounds are natural constituents of a variety of plant families and species widely used in medicinal, food, and feed products. Their individual occurrence, levels, and toxic properties, together with the broad range of congeners present in nature, represent a striking challenge to modern toxicology. This review tries to provide an overview of the current knowledge on these compounds and indicates needs and perspectives for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Schrenk
- Food Chemistry and Toxicology, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Ashley Allemang
- Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
| | - Jörg Fahrer
- Food Chemistry and Toxicology, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Henrik Harms
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Xilin Li
- Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, USA
| | - Ge Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Catherine Mahony
- Central Product Safety, Procter & Gamble Technical Centre, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Mulder
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ad Peijnenburg
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Pfuhler
- Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
| | - Ans Punt
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - John Troutman
- Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
| | - Frances Widjaja
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Lu YS, Qiu J, Mu XY, Qian YZ, Chen L. Levels, Toxic Effects, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Foods: A Review. Foods 2024; 13:536. [PMID: 38397512 PMCID: PMC10888194 DOI: 10.3390/foods13040536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring secondary metabolites of plants. To date, more than 660 types of PAs have been identified from an estimated 6000 plants, and approximately 120 of these PAs are hepatotoxic. As a result of PAs being found in spices, herbal teas, honey, and milk, PAs are considered contaminants in foods, posing a potential risk to human health. Here, we summarize the chemical structure, toxic effects, levels, and regulation of PAs in different countries to provide a better understanding of their toxicity and risk assessment. With recent research on the risk assessment of PAs, this review also discusses the challenges facing this field, aiming to provide a scientific basis for PA toxicity research and safety assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.-S.L.); (Y.-Z.Q.)
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.-S.L.); (Y.-Z.Q.)
| | - Xi-Yan Mu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.-S.L.); (Y.-Z.Q.)
| | - Yong-Zhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.-S.L.); (Y.-Z.Q.)
| | - Lu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.-S.L.); (Y.-Z.Q.)
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5
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Ahuja V, Singh A, Paul D, Dasgupta D, Urajová P, Ghosh S, Singh R, Sahoo G, Ewe D, Saurav K. Recent Advances in the Detection of Food Toxins Using Mass Spectrometry. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:1834-1863. [PMID: 38059476 PMCID: PMC10731662 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Edibles are the only source of nutrients and energy for humans. However, ingredients of edibles have undergone many physicochemical changes during preparation and storage. Aging, hydrolysis, oxidation, and rancidity are some of the major changes that not only change the native flavor, texture, and taste of food but also destroy the nutritive value and jeopardize public health. The major reasons for the production of harmful metabolites, chemicals, and toxins are poor processing, inappropriate storage, and microbial spoilage, which are lethal to consumers. In addition, the emergence of new pollutants has intensified the need for advanced and rapid food analysis techniques to detect such toxins. The issue with the detection of toxins in food samples is the nonvolatile nature and absence of detectable chromophores; hence, normal conventional techniques need additional derivatization. Mass spectrometry (MS) offers high sensitivity, selectivity, and capability to handle complex mixtures, making it an ideal analytical technique for the identification and quantification of food toxins. Recent technological advancements, such as high-resolution MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), have significantly improved sensitivity, enabling the detection of food toxins at ultralow levels. Moreover, the emergence of ambient ionization techniques has facilitated rapid in situ analysis of samples with lower time and resources. Despite numerous advantages, the widespread adoption of MS in routine food safety monitoring faces certain challenges such as instrument cost, complexity, data analysis, and standardization of methods. Nevertheless, the continuous advancements in MS-technology and its integration with complementary techniques hold promising prospects for revolutionizing food safety monitoring. This review discusses the application of MS in detecting various food toxins including mycotoxins, marine biotoxins, and plant-derived toxins. It also explores the implementation of untargeted approaches, such as metabolomics and proteomics, for the discovery of novel and emerging food toxins, enhancing our understanding of potential hazards in the food supply chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Ahuja
- University
Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India
- University
Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh
University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India
| | - Amanpreet Singh
- Department
of Chemistry, University Institute of Science, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India
| | - Debarati Paul
- Amity
Institute of Biotechnology, AUUP, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201313, India
| | - Diptarka Dasgupta
- Material
Resource Efficiency Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun 248005, India
| | - Petra Urajová
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
| | - Sounak Ghosh
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
| | - Roshani Singh
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
| | - Gobardhan Sahoo
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Ewe
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
| | - Kumar Saurav
- Laboratory
of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň 379
01, Czech Republic
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Lin T, Zhou L, Chen Z, Wang L, Yang J, Wang S, Chen X, Zuo Z, He C, Guo L. Exposure to echimidine impairs the heart development and function of zebrafish larvae. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 266:115574. [PMID: 37839186 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of phytotoxins that are widely distributed and can be consumed by humans through their daily diets. Echimidine is one of the most abundant PAs, but its safety, particularly its effects on development, is not fully understood. In this study, we used a zebrafish model to assess the developmental toxicity of echimidine. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to echimidine at concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mg/L for 96 h. Our study revealed that embryonic exposure to echimidine led to developmental toxicity, characterized by delayed hatching and reduced body length. Additionally, echimidine exposure had a notable impact on heart development in larvae, causing tachycardia and reducing stroke volume (SV)and cardiac output (CO). Upon exposing the transgenic zebrafish strain Tg(cmlc2:EGFP) to echimidine, we observed atrial dilation and thinning of the atrial wall in developing embryos. Moreover, our findings indicated abnormal expression of genes associated with cardiac development (including gata4, tbx5, nkx2.5 and myh6) and genes involved in calcium signaling pathways (such as cacna1aa, cacna1sa, ryr2a, ryr2b, atp2a2a, atp2a2b, slc8a1, slc8a3 and slc8a4a). In summary, our findings demonstrate that echimidine may impair cardiac development and function in zebrafish larvae by disrupting calcium transport, leading to developmental toxicity. These findings provide insights regarding the safety of products containing PAs in food and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Evaluation and Research Center of Daodi Herbs of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang 330000, China
| | - Zhibin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Luanjin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China; Evaluation and Research Center of Daodi Herbs of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang 330000, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xintan Chen
- Chest Pain Center, Anxi County Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian 362400, China
| | - Zhenghong Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Chengyong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Lanping Guo
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
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Gumus ZP. Assessment of Toxic Pyrrolizidine and Tropane Alkaloids in Herbal Teas and Culinary Herbs Using LC-Q-ToF/MS. Foods 2023; 12:3572. [PMID: 37835225 PMCID: PMC10572649 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a defense against insects. These can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. Therefore, avoiding potential poisoning from the consumption of tea and culinary plants contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), pyrrolizidine alkaloids N-oxides (PANOs), and tropane alkaloids (TAs) is important for human health and food safety. Therefore, it is important to determine the levels of these substances with reliable and highly accurate methods. In this study, the PAs, PANOs, and TAs in herbal teas and culinary herbs sold in Turkish markets were identified and their levels were determined. Thus, the general profiles of herbal teas and culinary herbs in Turkey were revealed, and the compliance of the total amounts of PA and TA with the regulations was examined. The identification and quantification of 25 PAs and N-oxides and 2 TAs (atropine and scopolamine) in the samples was performed with a liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer (LC-Q-ToF/MS). At least a few of these substances were detected in all of the tested herbal teas and culinary herbs. The total contents of the black tea, green tea, mixed tea, flavored tea, chamomile tea, sage tea, linden tea, fennel tea, rosehip tea, peppermint, and thyme samples ranged from 4.6 ng g-1 to 1054.5 ng g-1. The results obtained shed light on the importance of analyzing the total dehydro PA, PANO, and TA amounts in plant-based products consumed in diets with sensitive and accurate methods, and they highlight the necessity of performing these analyses routinely in terms of food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinar Pinar Gumus
- Central Research Test and Analysis Laboratory Application and Research Center (EGE-MATAL), Ege University, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
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Roncada P, Isani G, Peloso M, Dalmonte T, Bonan S, Caprai E. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Monofloral and Multifloral Italian Honey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5410. [PMID: 37048023 PMCID: PMC10094242 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a self-defense against insects. After bioactivation in the liver, some PAs can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of PAs in 121 samples of monofloral and multifloral honey from three different Italian regions (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche and Calabria) to meet the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggestion. An in-house liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was validated according to European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) performance criteria. This method allowed the detection and quantification of 35 PAs. Of the 121 honey samples, 38 (31%), mostly from Calabria, contained PAs. The total content of the PAs ranged from 0.9 µg/kg to 33.1 µg/kg. In particular, echimidine was the most prevalent PA. A rapid human exposure assessment to PAs in honey and a risk characterization was performed using the EFSA RACE tool. The assessment highlighted a potential health concern only for toddlers who frequently consume elevated quantities of honey. This study showed a low presence of PAs in Italian honey; however, the importance of continuously monitoring these compounds is stressed, along with the suggestion that the relevant authorities establish maximum limits to guarantee support for producers and consumer safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Roncada
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Mariantonietta Peloso
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Thomas Dalmonte
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefania Bonan
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caprai
- National Reference Laboratory for Plant Toxins in Food, Food Chemical Department, IZSLER, Via Fiorini, 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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