Pyrrolizidine alkaloid
The Pyrrolizidinalkaloide, also Senezioalkaloide, form a group of about 200 alkaloids, which occur especially in Compositae, Leguminosae and Raublattgewächsen.
Among the best known representatives of the old man senecionine contained in herbs, Senkirkin, lycopsamine and Lasiocarpin belong. These alkaloids are responsible for a number of diseases caused mainly by ragwort occurrence on pasture poisoning in cattle and horses.
Toxic thereby act not Pyrrolizidinalkaloide itself, but the degradation products of the degraded mainly in the liver compounds which are hepatotoxic and in high doses lead to fatal liver dysfunction, including Hepatic vein. The clinical picture of PA poisoning is known in veterinary medicine as Seneziose or " Schweinberger disease" and is usually caused by ragwort stock on pastures.
Significance of Pyrrolizidinalkaloide in the pharmacophagy for different insect species. For example, take harlequin horror ( Zonocerus spec.) These phytochemicals specifically in order to protect themselves from predators so.
It is possible that pyrrolizidine alkaloids are registered on plant food components into the human food chain. The transition from pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the nectar, and with this in honey has been demonstrated. Studies showed a lower burden on German honeys. In 50% of cases examined, however, the load was 250 g / kg of honey. Even more critical this is in honeys from overseas. It was also reported contamination of rocket and salad mixes with ragwort leaves and Pyrrolizidinalkaloide in herbal teas. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment calls for zero tolerance for Pyrrolizidinalkaloide due to the extreme toxicity. To date, there are no provisions for food regarding maximum amounts still controls. However, the intake to 1 g / day following administration of up to 6 weeks or 0.1 g / day was limited when applied over 6 weeks for phyto-pharmaceutical products by the Federal Health Office ..
Far greater is the risk in countries of the Near and Middle East and East Africa. It is reported from Ethiopia and Afghanistan of deaths in children from contaminated grain.