Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Dietary Sources Using a Spectrophotometric Method

    October 2018 in “ Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences ”
    Oana Cristina Șeremet, Octavian Tudorel Olaru, Mihaela Ilie, Claudia Maria Guțu, George Mihai Nițulescu, Camelia Diaconu, Cătălina Motofei, Denisa Margină, Simona Negreș, Cristina Elena Zbârcea, Emil Ștefănescu
    Studysummary In this study, researchers developed and validated a method to quantify pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey and flour, increasing alkaloid recovery rates through successive extractions, achieving up to 86% recovery for honey and 76% for flour.
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    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.
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