TY - JOUR
T1 - Occurrence and associated health risks of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in supplements marketed in Ghana for improved sexual performance
AU - Akuamoa, Felicia
AU - Mulder, Patrick P.J.
AU - Bovee, Toine F.H.
AU - Rietjens, Ivonne M.C.M.
AU - Hoogenboom, Ron L.A.P.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are noted for their hepatotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in animals and humans following metabolic activation in the liver. In this study, herbal supplements sold in Ghana for sexual improvement were analysed for the presence of 64 PAs using LC-MS/MS analysis. Up to 17 different PAs were identified in 19 out of the 37 samples analysed. The sum of PAs in samples ranged from 5 to 3204 μg kg−1. Since the PA content in the herbal medicinal preparations was generally lower than in honey samples, their presence was mainly attributed to cross-contamination. The observed levels would result in estimated daily intakes from 0.01 to 12 μg per day or 0.0002 to 0.2 μg kg−1 bw day−1 for a person weighing 70 kg. The margins of exposure ranged from 1200 to 1,400,000 with eight samples showing values below 10,000, thus indicating a health concern.
AB - Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are noted for their hepatotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in animals and humans following metabolic activation in the liver. In this study, herbal supplements sold in Ghana for sexual improvement were analysed for the presence of 64 PAs using LC-MS/MS analysis. Up to 17 different PAs were identified in 19 out of the 37 samples analysed. The sum of PAs in samples ranged from 5 to 3204 μg kg−1. Since the PA content in the herbal medicinal preparations was generally lower than in honey samples, their presence was mainly attributed to cross-contamination. The observed levels would result in estimated daily intakes from 0.01 to 12 μg per day or 0.0002 to 0.2 μg kg−1 bw day−1 for a person weighing 70 kg. The margins of exposure ranged from 1200 to 1,400,000 with eight samples showing values below 10,000, thus indicating a health concern.
KW - aphrodisiacs
KW - Ghana
KW - health risk
KW - Herbal supplements
KW - pyrrolizidine alkaloids
UR - http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23683418
U2 - 10.1080/19393210.2023.2227961
DO - 10.1080/19393210.2023.2227961
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85165252065
SN - 1939-3210
VL - 16
SP - 301
EP - 309
JO - Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B Surveillance
JF - Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B Surveillance
IS - 3
ER -
