1. Academic Validation
  2. Quantification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio brasiliensis, beehive pollen, and honey by LC-MS/MS

Quantification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio brasiliensis, beehive pollen, and honey by LC-MS/MS

  • J Environ Sci Health B. 2021;56(7):685-694. doi: 10.1080/03601234.2021.1943257.
Andressa Camargo Valese 1 2 Heitor Daguer 2 Carmen Maria Oliveira Muller 1 Luciano Molognoni 2 Cynthia Fernandes Pinto da Luz 3 Daniel de Barcellos Falkenberg 4 Luciano Valdemiro Gonzaga 1 Patricia Brugnerotto 1 Silvana Lima Gorniak 5 Fabiano Barreto 2 Roseane Fett 1 Ana Carolina Oliveira Costa 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
  • 2 Federal Agricultural Defense Laboratory, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Sao Jose, SC, Brazil.
  • 3 Center for Research in Palynology, Department of the Environment of São Paulo, Institute of Botany, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
  • 4 Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
  • 5 Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract

This article presents the determination of eight Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) by LC-MS/MS in honeys, pollen, and Senecio brasiliensis (Asteraceae) samples, all from Santa Catarina state, Brazil. In addition, the Box-Behnken design was used to perform an optimized sample preparation on pollens and S. brasiliensis parts. Senecionine and its N-oxide, besides retrorsine N-oxide, were determined in six of the seven honeys samples. Pollen from species of the Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Boraginaceae families were found with greater predominance in three of the seven honeys samples. In these three honeys samples were also found the highest PAs levels. In beehive pollen, flower, and leaf of S. brasiliensis, the total levels of PAs and their N-oxides reached 221, 14.1 × 104, and 14.8 × 104 mg kg-1, respectively. In honeys, these compounds are chemical contaminants and therefore undesirable when the sum exceeds 71 µg kg-1, according to EFSA. On the other hand, although PAs are naturally present in plant and pollen of some species (Senecio, Crotalaria, Bacharis, Ecchium, Mimosa scabrella, Vernonia), it is important to monitor their levels in Plants but also in honeys, and other beehive products since these compounds are transferred to the final product.

Keywords

Contaminants; PA/PANO; food safety; natural toxins; pollen analysis.

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