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Home / Equine Research Bank / Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess / Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food and feed on the Belgian mark...
Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment2015; 32(11); 1939-1951; doi: 10.1080/19440049.2015.1086821

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food and feed on the Belgian market.

Abstract: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are widely distributed plant toxins with species dependent hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, genotoxic and pneumotoxic risks. In a recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion, only two data sets from one European country were received for honey, while one feed data set was included. No data are available for food or feed samples from the Belgian market. We developed an LC-MS/MS method, which allowed the detection and quantification of 16 PAs in a broad range of matrices in the sub ng g(-1) range. The method was validated in milk, honey and hay and applied to honey, tea (Camellia sinensis), scented tea, herbal tea, milk and feed samples bought on the Belgian market. The results confirmed that tea, scented tea, herbal tea and honey are important food sources of pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination in Belgium. Furthermore, we detected PAs in 4 of 63 commercial milk samples. A high incidence rate of PAs in lucerne (alfalfa)-based horse feed and in rabbit feed was detected, while bird feed samples were less contaminated. We report for the first time the presence of monocrotaline, intermedine, lycopsamine, heliotrine and echimidine in cat food.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-15 PubMed ID: 26373269DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2015.1086821Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on the detection and quantification of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs), potent plant toxins, in food and feed samples from the Belgian market, using a newly developed LC-MS/MS method. PAs were found in a range of products including tea, honey, milk, and several types of animal feed.

Methodology

  • The researchers developed an LC-MS/MS method, a form of spectrometry, for detecting and quantifying the presence of 16 different Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids. These toxins are common in a variety of plants and are harmful to many species, causing a range of health problems from liver damage to cancer.
  • The method was validated using three different sample types – milk, honey, and hay – providing a broad basis for detection.

Analysis of Belgian Market

  • Using their developed method, the researchers then analysed samples of honey, tea, scented tea, herbal tea, milk and animal feed purchased from the Belgian market.
  • The study measured levels of PAs down to sub nanogram per gram ranges, providing highly sensitive detection of these toxins.

Results

  • The results revealed that several food products – including tea, scented tea, herbal tea, and honey – are significant sources of PA contamination in Belgium.
  • PAs were also found in commercial milk samples, with 4 samples out of 63 testing positive for the toxins.
  • The study further detected a high incidence rate of PAs in lucerne (alfalfa)-based horse feed and rabbit feed. Bird feed samples were less contaminated.
  • Notably, this study is the first to report the presence of several specific PAs – monocrotaline, intermedine, lycopsamine, heliotrine and echimidine – in cat food.

Significance

  • This study provides new data on the presence of harmful Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in a range of food and feed samples on the Belgian market. This information is crucial for risk assessment and regulation efforts to reduce toxin exposure.
  • The validated LC-MS/MS method developed in this research offers a useful tool for the detection and quantification of PAs in various matrices, potentially advancing future research and monitoring in this field.

Cite This Article

APA
Huybrechts B, Callebaut A. (2015). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food and feed on the Belgian market. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess, 32(11), 1939-1951. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2015.1086821

Publication

Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
ISSN: 1944-0057
NlmUniqueID: 101485040
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 11
Pages: 1939-1951

Researcher Affiliations

Huybrechts, Bart
  • a Toxins and Natural Components , Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA) , Tervuren , Belgium.
Callebaut, Alfons
  • a Toxins and Natural Components , Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA) , Tervuren , Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Belgium
  • Birds
  • Cats
  • Food Analysis
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Food Industry / economics
  • Food Supply
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / analysis
  • Rabbits

Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Peloso M, Minkoumba Sonfack G, Paduano S, De Martino M, De Santis B, Caprai E. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Food on the Italian Market.. Molecules 2023 Jul 11;28(14).
    doi: 10.3390/molecules28145346pubmed: 37513219google scholar: lookup
  2. Roncada P, Isani G, Peloso M, Dalmonte T, Bonan S, Caprai E. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Monofloral and Multifloral Italian Honey.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023 Apr 5;20(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph20075410pubmed: 37048023google scholar: lookup
  3. Klein LM, Gabler AM, Rychlik M, Gottschalk C, Kaltner F. A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for isomer separation and quantitative determination of 51 pyrrolizidine alkaloids and two tropane alkaloids in cow's milk.. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022 Nov;414(28):8107-8124.
    doi: 10.1007/s00216-022-04344-5pubmed: 36183043google scholar: lookup
  4. Kowalczyk E, Kwiatek K. Simultaneous Determination of Pyrrolizidine and Tropane Alkaloids in Honey by Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry.. J Vet Res 2022 Jun;66(2):235-243.
    doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2022-0032pubmed: 35892104google scholar: lookup
  5. Casado N, Fernández-Pintor B, Morante-Zarcero S, Sierra I. Quick and Green Microextraction of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Infusions of Mallow, Calendula, and Hibiscus Flowers Using Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis.. J Agric Food Chem 2022 Jun 29;70(25):7826-7841.
    doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02186pubmed: 35714998google scholar: lookup
  6. Wang Z, Han H, Wang C, Zheng Q, Chen H, Zhang X, Hou R. Hepatotoxicity of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Compound Intermedine: Comparison with Other Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Its Toxicological Mechanism.. Toxins (Basel) 2021 Nov 28;13(12).
    doi: 10.3390/toxins13120849pubmed: 34941687google scholar: lookup
  7. Huybrechts B, Malysheva SV, Masquelier J. A Targeted UHPLC-MS/MS Method Validated for the Quantification of Ergot Alkaloids in Cereal-Based Baby Food from the Belgian Market.. Toxins (Basel) 2021 Jul 29;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/toxins13080531pubmed: 34437402google scholar: lookup
  8. Kowalczyk E, Kwiatek K. Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Honey: Determination with Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Method.. J Vet Res 2018 Jun;62(2):173-181.
    doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2018-0027pubmed: 30364911google scholar: lookup
  9. Kowalczyk E, Kwiatek K. Use of a New LC-MS Method for The Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Feeds.. J Vet Res 2018 Jun;62(2):183-191.
    doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2018-0028pubmed: 30364865google scholar: lookup
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