title: Update on analytical methods for toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
abstract: Methods for the determination of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in plants and foods are described with emphasis on the important aspects of sample extraction and clean-up and the now preferred determination by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The efficiencies of different extraction solvents and methods are described, as are the methods of reduction of N-oxides. Appropriate liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry conditions are tabulated. This concise review is intended to guide analysts towards adopting a more unified and reliable approach to the analysis of these important toxins.
authors.affiliation: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK. colin.crews@fera.gsi.gov.uk
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berthiller
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krska
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; D014118:Toxins, Biological