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Determination Of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids In Dietary Sources Using A Spectrophotometric Method, Oana C. Șeremet, Octavian T. Olaru, Mihaela Ilie, Claudia M. Guțu, Mihai G. Nițulescu, Camelia Diaconu, Catalina Motofei, Denisa Margină, Simona Negreș, Cristina E. Zbârcea, Emil Ștefănescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of toxic compounds found in the composition of more than 6000 plants. People can be exposed to PAs by consuming phytotherapeutic products, food from crops contaminated with seeds of some species with high content of PAs, and/ or contaminated animal products like bee products. For this reason we developed and validated a method for quantitative determination of PAs, from the most frequently contaminated food sources, honey and flour. Colorimetric Ehrlich reagent method was used with standard addition (1mg/kg senecionine). The extraction solvent was methanol 50% acidified with citric acid to pH 2-3, as this …