Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Dietary Sources Using a Spectrophotometric Method
October 2018
in “
Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences
”
TLDR A new method effectively detects toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey and flour.
The study developed a spectrophotometric method using the Ehrlich reagent to determine pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in honey and flour, achieving a quantification limit of 0.174 μg/mL. Initial single extractions had low recovery rates, but successive extractions improved recovery to 86.0% for honey and 76.0% for flour. The method was validated for selectivity, linearity, accuracy, and precision, making it effective for detecting toxic PA levels in food. Historical PA contamination cases underscored the method's importance for consumer safety.