Levels, Toxic Effects, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Foods: A Review

Lu, Yu-Shun; Qiu, Jing; Mu, Xi-Yan; Qian, Yong-Zhong; Chen, Lu

doi:10.3390/foods13040536

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 97 publications

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“…Although studies are being conducted to evaluate the dangers, China has not yet set limitations for PAs in food. 42…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Senecio asirensis Hexane Fraction Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Al kamaly,

Imtara,

Alanazi

et al. 2024

Natural Product Communications

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Objective Senecio asirensis, an endemic species of Saudi Arabia, has been traditionally used to treat various ailments. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxic potential of Senecio asirensis fractions, and to identify the main compounds in the extract that are the most active. Methods The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using disc diffusion assay. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity evaluated using the MTT assay in various cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, and A549) and validated by molecular docking for the major compound of the most active fraction. Finally, gas chromatography and a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis was carried out to identify the chemical compounds in hexane extract of Senecio asirensis. Results The hexane fraction exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria ( S. aureus) and yeast organisms ( C. albicans and C. tropicalis), while chloroform and butanol fractions showed no activity against the tested microbial strains. Moreover, in the cytotoxic activity assay, notably, the hexane fraction showed a significantly higher cytotoxic effect on MCF-7. The GC-MS analysis of the hexane fraction revealed the presence of 26 phytoconstituents, with nonacosane being the most abundant compound. Therefore, the molecular docking was employed to validate the cytotoxic activity for the major compound of the most active fraction (nonacosane) against human DNA topoisomerase IIa. Conclusion These findings provide a scientific basis for the traditional use of S. asirensis in medicine and suggest that its bioactive compounds have potential therapeutic applications in anticancer treatments. Further research is needed to isolate and characterize other active compounds and to explore potential synergistic effects among them.

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“…Although studies are being conducted to evaluate the dangers, China has not yet set limitations for PAs in food. 42…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Senecio asirensis Hexane Fraction Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Al kamaly,

Imtara,

Alanazi

et al. 2024

Natural Product Communications

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Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids as Hazardous Toxins in Natural Products: Current Analytical Methods and Latest Legal Regulations

Lis-Cieplak,

Trześniowska,

Stolarczyk

et al. 2024

Molecules

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are toxic compounds that occur naturally in certain plants, however, there are many secondary pathways causing PA contamination of other plants, including medicinal herbs and plant-based food products, which pose a risk of human intoxication. It is proven that chronic exposure to PAs causes serious adverse health consequences resulting from their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. This review briefly presents PA occurrence, structures, chemistry, and toxicity, as well as a set of analytical methods. Recently developed sensitive electrochemical and chromatographic methods for the determination of PAs in honey, teas, herbs, and spices were summarized. The main strategies for improving the analytical efficiency of PA determination are related to the use of mass spectrometric (MS) detection; therefore, this review focuses on advances in MS-based methods. Raising awareness of the potential health risks associated with the presence of PAs in food and herbal medicines requires ongoing research in this area, including the development of sensitive methods for PA determination and rigorous legal regulations of PA intake from herbal products. The maximum levels of PAs in certain products are regulated by the European Commission; however, the precise knowledge about which products contain trace but significant amounts of these alkaloids is still insufficient.

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Levels, Toxic Effects, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Foods: A Review

Cited by 2 publications

References 97 publications

Phytochemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Senecio asirensis Hexane Fraction Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Phytochemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Senecio asirensis Hexane Fraction Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids as Hazardous Toxins in Natural Products: Current Analytical Methods and Latest Legal Regulations

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