Analysis and occurrence of matrine in liquorice raw materials - Exclusion of its application as pesticide

Schultz, Julia A.; Raters, Marion; Wittig, Maximilian; Christall, Birgit; Heckel, Frank

doi:10.1080/19440049.2021.2005261

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Beside its utilization as a traditional medicine, matrine is used as a pesticide in Asian countries [ 12 ]. In the European Union, however, matrine and oxymatrine are considered as not approved pesticide active substances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, the occurrence of matrine in concentrations above the default MRL was sporadically observed in liquorice products. As outlined by Schultz et al [ 12 ], it is very unlikely that these findings are a result of matrine-containing pesticides, as the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra is not cultivated but wild growing. Since both plants are morphologically very similar, it rather appears plausible that liquorice plants are confused with Sophora species during harvesting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, matrine and oxymatrine in liquorice products may be considered as food contaminants. The same authors reported concentrations of up to 0.087 mg/kg matrine in powdered liquorice raw material [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As indicated in the publication by Schultz et al the concentrations in liquorice products are relatively low [ 12 ]. However, low concentrations do not rule out the possibility of detrimental effects on human health from either substance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Matrine and Oxymatrine: evaluating the gene mutation potential using in silico tools and the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test)

Fischer,

Musengi,

König

et al. 2023

Mutagenesis

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The quinolizidine alkaloids matrine and its N-oxide oxymatrine occur in plants of the genus Sophora. Recently, matrine was sporadically detected in liquorice products. Morphological similarity of the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra with Sophora species and resulting confusion during harvesting may explain this contamination, but use of matrine as pesticide has also been reported. The detection of matrine in liquorice products raised concern as some studies suggested a genotoxic activity of matrine and oxymatrine. However, these studies are fraught with uncertainties, putting the reliability and robustness into question. Another issue was that Sophora root extracts were usually tested instead of pure matrine and oxymatrine. The aim of this work was therefore to determine whether matrine and oxymatrine have potential for causing gene mutations. In a first step and to support a weight-of-evidence analysis, in silico predictions were performed to improve the database using expert and statistical systems by VEGA, Leadscope (Instem®), and Nexus (Lhasa Limited). Unfortunately, the confidence levels of the predictions were insufficient to either identify or exclude a mutagenic potential. Thus, in order to obtain reliable results, the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) was carried out in accordance with OECD Test Guideline 471. The test set included the plate incorporation and the preincubation assay. It was performed with five different bacterial strains in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. Neither matrine nor oxymatrine induced a significant increase in the number of revertants under any of the selected experimental conditions. Overall, it can be concluded that matrine and oxymatrine are unlikely to have a gene mutation potential. Any positive findings with Sophora extracts in the Ames test may be related to other components. Notably, the results also indicated a need to extend the application domain of respective (Q)SAR tools to secondary plant metabolites.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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