Pyrrolizidine alkaloids determination

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are naturally occurring substances produced by various plants as a defense mechanism against insect herbivores. The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) of EFSA has concluded that there is a possible concern for human health related to exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

This test package includes the analysis of the following substances:

• Echimidine, echimidine-N-oxide

• Echinatine, echinatine-N-oxide

• Europine, europine-N-oxide

• Erucifoline, erucifoline-N-oxide

• Heliosupine, heliosupine-N-oxide

• Heliotrine, heliotrine-N-oxide

• Indicine-N-oxide

• Integerrimine, integerrimine-N-oxide

• Intermedine, intermedine-N-oxide

• Jacobine, jacobine-N-oxide

• Lasiocarpine, lasiocarpine-N-oxide

• Lycopsamine-N-oxide

• Monocrotaline, monocrotaline-N-oxide

• Retrorsine

• Rinderine, rinderine-N-oxide

• Senecionine, senecionine-N-oxide

• Seneciphylline, seneciphylline-N-oxide

• Senecivernine, senecivernine-N-oxide

• Senkirkine

• Spartioidine, spartioidine-N-oxide

• Sum of indicine and lycopsamine

• Sum of retrorsine-N-oxide and usaramine-N-oxide

• Trichodesmine and usaramine

• Sum of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Compliance can be evaluated based on maximum levels set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Foods regulated for the pyrrolizidine alkaloid content include tea, herbs, cumin, and botanical food supplements.