Pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids gained more and more attention in the last years as contamination. First in tea, honey, other food products and now also found in herbal medicinal products. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary metabolites, produced by several plant species as protection against insect herbivores. They are common food contaminants in herbs, tea, salad, leafy vegetables and honey. Feed can be contaminated so that the plant products find their way in the food chain indirectly also over meat, milk and eggs. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have adverse health effects and were classified as genotoxic, carcinogen and hepatotoxic.