Pyrrolizidine alkaloids contamination in plant extracts? Why sorting matters

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring compounds found in certain plant families such as Asteraceae (e.g., Senecio, Jacobaea),Boraginaceae (e.g., Echium, Symphytum) and Fabaceae (e.g., Crotalaria).

Many PAs are hepatotoxic and subject to strict regulatory limits, particularly in food supplements, teas and plant extracts.It is important to clarify that pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not present in essential oils since they are non-volatile, relatively high molecular weight, and polar compounds, they do not transfer during steam distillation. They remain in the plant residue.However, PAs can be present in plant extracts. Solvent extraction (water, ethanol, hydroalcoholic mixtures) can dissolve and concentrate these compounds if PA-producing weeds are accidentally harvested along with the target plant material.

Contamination may occur through:- Wild harvesting of mixed plant populations- Poor weed control in cultivated fields- Mechanical harvesting that collects non-target speciesOnce plant material is dried, milled or extracted, removal of contamination is extremely difficult. For this reason, accurate botanical identification, proper field management and careful sorting of raw materials before processing/transformation are essential control steps

Find more information here on the EU-accepted limits for different product categories: https://lnkd.in/ezimt74c