Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids of Wheat and Flour Contaminated with Senecio in Mazandaran Province Farms

Abstract

The Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) are a group of chemicals found in a variety of plant species throughout the world. These toxic alkaloids are distributed mainly in Senecio (Compositae), Crotalaria (Legominosae) and Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) species. Plants containing these alkaloids cause significant mammalian morbidity and mortality, especially in humans. Upon ingestion, metabolic activation in liver converts the potent compounds into highly reactive electrophiles capable of reacting with cellular macromolecules forming adducts, which can initiate acute or chronic toxicity.