• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.790-794
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the morphological properties and pyrrolizidine alkaloids of comfrey cultivating in Korea. 12 comfrey samples cultivation in Korea was selected and their appearance (whole plant, leaves, root etc.) were observed by expert and microscopy for morphological analysis. It is confirmed that their species are Symphytum officinale Linnaeus. Samples were extracted by hot MeOH and ultra-sonification. Their extracts contained pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which was identified by TLC analysis. By spraying thin-layer chromatograms of pyrrolizidine alkaloids stable purple spots were developed. But the extracts of chicory, pumpkin and sesame leaves did not show any purple spots. Same HPLC pattern were displayed at about 30 min of retention show peaks an one and the same time.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2715-2716
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• 2010

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1877-1880
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• 2009

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.252-261
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• 2019

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of secondary metabolites that are produced by plants all over the world as a defense mechanism against herbivores. To date, over 660 PAs have been identified from more than 6,000 plant species that have been reported to be widely present in plants belonging to Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, and Fabaceae. This study describes an analytical method based on UPLC-MS/MS for the quantitation of 7 pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Lycopsamine, Echimidine, Retrorsine, Retrorsine N-oxide, Senecionine, Heliotrine, and Trichodesmine) in honey, and was applied to 84 honey samples for validation. Quantitation was performed based on a matrix-matched calibration to compensate for the matrix effect on the electrospray ionization. Good linear calibrations were obtained for all 7 PAs in the spiked honey samples (2.575-202.14 ㎍/kg; R² ≥ 0.998). The extraction recoveries for most of the PAs in the honey samples were in the range of 81 %-108 %. The analysis showed that 6 of the 84 honey samples were contaminated by the PAs with the mean total sum of PAs being 47.19 ㎍/kg, and the concentrations of the PAs were observed to be in the range of 1.76-202.1 ㎍/kg. The retronecine type compounds (Echimidine, Lycopsamine) were the most frequently found PAs in honey. These data provide useful information for the assessment of human risk posed by the consumption of honey contaminated PAs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.547-553
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• 2004

The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), contained in a number of traditional remedies in Africa and Asia, show wide variations in metabolism between animal species but little work has been done to investigate differences between animal strains. The metabolism of the PA senecionine (SN) in Fischer 344 (F344) rats has been studied in order to compare to that found in the previously investigated Sprague-Dawley (SO) rats (Drug Metab. Dispos. 17: 387, 1989). There was no difference in the formation of ($\pm$) 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (DHP, bioactivation) by hepatic microsomes from either sex of SO and F344 rats. However, hepatic microsomes from male and female F344 rats had greater activity in the Noxidation (detoxication) of SN by 88% and 180%, respectively, when compared to that of male and female SD rats. Experiments conducted at various pH showed an optimum pH of 8.5, the optimal pH for flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), for SN N-oxidation by hepatic microsomes from F344 females. In F344 males, however, a bimodal pattern was obtained with activity peaks at pH 7.6 and 8.5 reflecting the possible involvement of both cytochrome P450 (CYP) and FMO. Use of specific inhibitors (SKF525A, 1-benzylimidazole and methimazole) showed that the N-oxide of SN was primarily produced by FMO in both sexes of F344 rats. In contrast, SN N-oxide formation is known to be catalyzed mainly by CYP2C11 rather than FMO in SD rats. This study, therefore, demonstrated that there were substantial differences in the formation of SN N-oxide by hepatic microsomes from F344 and SD rats and that this detoxification is catalyzed primarily by two different enzymes in the two rat strains. These findings suggest that significant variations in PA biotransformation can exist between different animal strains.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.178.2-178.2
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• 2003

Naturally occurring sugar mimics with a nitrogen in the ring are classified into five structural classes: polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, piperidines, indolizidines. pyrrolizidine, and nortropanes. Glycosidase are involved in a wide range of important biological processes, such as intestinal digestion, post-translational processing of glycoproteins and the lysosomal catabolism of glycoconjugate. The realization that alkaloidal sugar mimics might have enormous therapeutic potential in many diseases such as viral infection, cancer and diabetes has led to increasing interest and demand for these compounds. (omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.346-350
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• 1997

The synthesis of cis- and trans-1,6-dihydroxypyrrolizidine starting from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline and their evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors are reported. The cis-isomer was found to be a potent inhibitor against .alpha.-glucosidase and showed weak inhibitory effect against other glycosidases. The trans-isomer exhibited weak inhibitions of b-glucosidase and amylo-glucosidase and poor inhibition of other glycosidases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.115-115
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• 2003

Naturally occurring sugar mimics with a nitrogen in the ring are classified into five structural classes: polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, piperidines, indolizidines. pyrrolizidine, and nortropanes. Glycosidase are involved in a wide range of important biological processes, such as intestinal digestion, post-translational processing of glycoproteins and the lysosomal catabolism of glycoconjugate. The realization that alkaloidal sugar mimics might have enormous therapeutic potential in many diseases such as viral infection, cancer and diabetes has led to increasing interest and demand for these compounds. Most of these effects can be shown to result from the direct or indrect inhibition of glycosidases.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.375.1-375.1
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• 2002

As part of a research program on the bioactive terpene constituents of Korean compositae plants. we have investigated Cacalia koraiensis (compositae). collected from Gangwon Province on August 2001. On reviewing the literatures of this species. triterpenes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids were isolated and some pharmacological activities were investigated. This species have been used for tinea and spasmolysis However. chemical constituents of this plant have not been reported. (omitted)

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate the toxic effect of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from symphytum officinale i n rat. For this experiment, 120 male and female rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were used. The experimental groups were divided into five: Group CM and CF served as normal control with its gender. Group EM1 and EF1 were fed a 1% Symphytum officinal extract diet for 8 weeks. Group EM2 and EF2 fed a diet containing 2% extract diet. 4% extract diet into group EM3 and EF3 and 8% extract diet into group EM4 and EF4 were given. The results were as follows: 1. The major alkaloids of Symphytum officinale extract were symphytine, echmidine, and lasiocarpine. The amounts of total alkaloid were 168 $\mu\textrm{g}$ PAs/$m\ell$ extract. And contents of Pas in leaves were 0.05% wt.. 2. Total serum bilirubin concentrations increased significantly in group EM2, EM3, and EM4. Group EF1, EF2, EF3, and EF4 showed statistical significance for the group CF (p<0.05). 3. Aspartate transaminase activities were increased significantly in group EM3 and EM4 (p<0.05). Aspartate transaminase activities of EF1, EF2, EF3, and EF4 showed statistical significance for the group CF (p<0.05). 4. Alanine transaminase activities increased significantly in group EM3, EM4 (p<0.05). Alanine transaminase activities of EF1, EF2, EF3, and EF4 showed statistical significance for the group CF (p<0.05). 5. Alkaline phosphatase activities increased significantly in group EM2, EM3, and EM4 (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activities of EF1, FE@, EF3, and EF4 showed statistical sigmificance for the group CF (p<0.05). 6. istopathological analysis of liver specimens from group EM3 and EM4 showed focal necrosis, periportal necrosis and apoptpsis. Hepatocytes obtained from group EM2 showed fatty change and hydropic degeneration in group EM3 and EM4. Chromatolysis and chromatin margination was shown in group EF2 and EF3. With the above results, it was demonstrated that the Symphytum officinal extract could induce functional change of liver, and histopathological change of liver in rats fed a diet containing extract. In conclusion, because of the risk of intoxication or adverse effect, the composition, dosage and mode of administration of herbal products should be monitored strictly. And this study serves as a reminder that herbal as well as orthodox medications may have serious side effects.