Analysis, separation, and bioassay of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from comfrey (Symphytum officinale).
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been linked to liver and lung cancers and a range of other deleterious effects. As with many natural toxicants, major problems arise in determining the effects of the different members of the class and the importance of various forms of ingestion. In this study we have investigated the levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey (Symphytum officinale), determined the levels in different parts of the plant and in herbal remedies, separated the alkaloids into two main groups--the principal parent alkaloids and the corresponding N-oxides--and, finally, carried out a simple bioassay based upon the mutagenic capability of the separated compounds in a human cell line. We conclude that the part of the plant ingested is important in terms of alkaloid challenge and that the effect of two of the major groups of alkaloids individually is different from that of alkaloids in the whole plant extract.
CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norfolk, United Kingdom.
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Couet
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Crews
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Hanley
D001483:Base Sequence; D001681:Biological Assay; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; D000432:Methanol