title: Fagopyrins and Protofagopyrins: Detection, Analysis, and Potential Phototoxicity in Buckwheat.
abstract: Buckwheat contains many healthy nutrients, and its consumption is therefore increasing. Buckwheat also contains fluorescent phototoxic fagopyrins. A systematic review of fagopyrins and the phototoxicity of buckwheat found that reliable quantitative data on fagopyrin toxicity are not yet available. Generally, buckwheat seeds, flour, and teas are safe in normal amounts. Diets extensively composed of buckwheat sprouts, herbs, and particularly flowers or of fagopyrin-rich buckwheat extracts may cause fagopyrism. A reference standard is needed, as it would enable the accurate evaluation of fagopyrin content in buckwheat products and would allow proper testing of their as yet unknown physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Eva Tavčar
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Benković
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Samo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kreft
mesh_terms: D019612:Fagopyrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis; D011809:Quinones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D011809:Quinones; C496890:fagopyrin
keywords: buckwheat; fagopyrins; fagopyrism; fluorescent; photodynamic; phototoxic