Toxicity of plant extracts containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids using alternative invertebrate models

Seremet,Oana  Cristina; Olaru,Octavian   Tudorel; Gutu,Claudia  Maria; Nitulescu,George  Mihai; Ilie,Mihaela; Negres,Simona; Zbarcea,Cristina   Elena; Purdel,Carmen  Nicoleta; Spandidos,Demetrios A.; Tsatsakis,Aristides   M.; Coleman,Michael  D.; Margina,Denisa   Marilena

doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.8795

Toxicity of plant extracts containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids using alternative invertebrate models

Authors:
- Oana Cristina Seremet
- Octavian Tudorel Olaru
- Claudia Maria Gutu
- George Mihai Nitulescu
- Mihaela Ilie
- Simona Negres
- Cristina Elena Zbarcea
- Carmen Nicoleta Purdel
- Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Aristides M. Tsatsakis
- Michael D. Coleman
- Denisa Marilena Margina
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Affiliations: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Carol Davila’, 020956 Bucharest, Romania, Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece, Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, B4 7ET Birmingham, UK
Published online on: March 26, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8795
Pages: 7757-7763
Copyright: © Seremet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a widespread class of hepatotoxic heterocyclic organic compounds found in approximately 3% of world flora. Some PAs have been shown to have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The present study focuses on the toxicity effects of four dry extracts obtained from medicinal plants (Senecio vernalis, Symphytum officinale, Petasites hybridus and Tussilago farfara), on two aquatic organisms, Artemia salina and Daphnia magna, and the correlation with their PAs content. A new GC‑MS method, using a retention time (TR)‑5MS type capillary column was developed. PAs Kovats retention indices, for this type of column were computed for the first time. The lethal dose 50% (LC50) values for the two invertebrate models were correlated (Pearson 's coefficient, >0.9) and the toxicity was PA concentration-dependent, for three of the four extracts. All tested extracts were found to be toxic in both aquatic organism models. The results can be used to develop a GC‑MS validated method for the assay of PAs in medicinal plants with a further potential application in the risk assessment study of PAs toxicity in humans.

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