Rapid Target and Untarget Analytical Method for Alkaloids Analysis in Herbal Extracts

Alkaloids are nitrogenous organic basic compounds produced by plants, not only as waste products of metabolic processes, but also for many biological functions (e.g., pest defence, protection from photodegradation, aid in the growth of the seeds). Some of them are responsible for the beneficial effects of traditional medicines, but some may instead have the harmful effects of poisons. In particular pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) have hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects and in accordance with the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) a daily intake limit of 0.007 μg/kg body weight (0.42 μg/60 kg adult) was identified for 1,2- unsaturated Pas. Different studies revealed clearly that some herbal preparations may contain high amounts of PAs exceeding current recommendations. This poster demonstrates the development of a method for analyzing herb extracts which enabled the identification of about 300 alkaloids, belonging to 14 chemical groups.