title: Survey of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in seven varieties of Lappula squarrosa: An alternative source of heart-healthy vegetable oil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing demand for heart-healthy omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is putting stress on wild fish stocks. There is now a compelling need for new and novel sources of non-traditional seed oils containing high stearidonic acid (SDA), a precursor of EPA and DHA, to reduce this demand. The seed oil of Lappula squarrosa is one of the richest sources of SDA, however, the plant has been found to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the PA concentrations of seven varieties (A-G) of Lappula squarrosa were analysed to determine the most suitable varieties for commercial seed oil production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whilst the clean-up procedure for the PAs in the roots, flowers and leaves was on diatomaceous earth columns and finally analysed with GC-EI-MS, that of the seeds was through SCX-SPE and a more sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS sum parameter method was used in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether six PAs (supinine, amabiline, intermedine, lycopsamine and 3'-acetylintermedine) including one unknown retronecine-type PA were identified with variety C recording the lowest total PA concentration (4.64 mg seneciphylline equivalents (SE)/g dry weight (d.w.)). Besides, the total PA concentrations in the seeds of Lappula squarrosa varieties ranged between 2.88 μg PA/g and 10.36 μg PA/g d.w.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based solely on overall PA concentrations and PA distribution, variety D (5.95 mg SE/g d.w.) was found to be a potential candidate for commercial seed oil cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Letsyo
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jerz
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winterhalter
authors.affiliation: Exsemine GmbH, Am Wehr 4, 06198, Salzatal, Germany.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstrasse 1, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beuerle
mesh_terms: D028082:Boraginaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
keywords: Boraginaceae; GC-EI-MS; HPLC-ESI-MS/MS; Lappula squarrosa; food safety; non-traditional seed oil; pyrrolizidine alkaloid; sum parameter