Bioassay-directed analysis-based identification of relevant pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Jochem Louisse*, Patrick P.J. Mulder, Arjen Gerssen, Geert Stoopen, Deborah Rijkers, Milou G.M. van de Schans, Ad A.C.M. Peijnenburg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are produced by various plant species and have been detected as contaminants in food and feed. Monitoring programmes should include PAs that are present in relevant matrices and that exhibit a high toxic potential. The aim of the present study was to use a bioassay-directed analysis approach to identify relevant PAs not yet included in monitoring programmes. To that end, extracts of Heliotropium europaeum and H. popovii were prepared and analysed with LC–MS/MS for the presence of 35 PAs included in monitoring programmes, as well as for genotoxic activity in the HepaRG/γH2AX assay. Europine, heliotrine and lasiocarpine were found to be the most abundant PAs. The extracts showed a higher γH2AX activity than related artificial mixtures of quantified known PAs, which might point to the presence of unknown toxic PAs. The H. europaeum extract was fractionated and γH2AX activities of individual fractions were determined. Fractions were further analysed applying LC–Orbitrap-MS analysis and Compound Discoverer software, identifying various candidate PAs responsible for the non-explained genotoxic activity. Altogether, the results obtained show that bioassay-directed analysis allows identification of candidate PAs that can be included in monitoring programmes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2299-2317
Number of pages19
JournalArchives of Toxicology
Volume96
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022

Keywords

  • Bioassay
  • HepaRG cells
  • LC-MS/MS
  • LC-Orbitrap-MS
  • Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
  • γH2AX assay

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