Alkaloids honey

Truchado, P., Martos, I., Bottolotti, L., Sabatini, A. G., Ferreres, F., and Tomas-Barberan, F. A. (2009). Use of quinoline alkaloids as markers of the floral origin of chestnut honey. /. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 5680-5686. 

Deinzer, M. L., Thompson, P. A., Burgett, D. M. and Isaacson, D. L. 1977. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids Their occurrence in honey from tansy ragwort (S. jacobaea). Science, 195 497 99. 

Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) honey has an unpleasant flavor and causes poisoning (general weakness, headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness). There is evidence that the poisoning is due to the presence of alkaloid of andromedotoxin in rhododendron honey. 

The nitrogen content of honey is low and varies widely, with an average of about 0.04%. This consists mainly of alkaloids, chlorophyll derivatives, amino acids, and amines (Al-Mamary et al., 2002). Of amino acids, proline is dominant, but arginine, tryptophan, and cysteine, whose presence is characteristic of some types of honey, have also been detected (Anklam, 1998). Analysis of the amino acid profile has greater potential in detecting the geographic and botanic origin of honey than the protein composition (Anklam, 1998). 

Contraindications Tannins and alkaloids make tea somewhat bitter and unpleasant. Addition of honey may help. Slight nausea may be experienced by some individuals during first 30 minutes. Vitamin C lessens this. MAO inhibitor see dangerous combinations. See also YOHIMBINE. 

Both Echium plantagineum and E. vulgare are of European origin but have become opportunistic weeds in other parts of the world. In particular, E. plantagineum is a major agricultural toxic weed in Australia whilst E. vulgare has infested large parts of New Zealand. Both have implications for livestock health, welfare, and productivity as well as human health implications via the presence of their alkaloids in honey and other food products [26-28]. 

The presence of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey has been known for several decades [42]. The potential health concerns associated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food [27] and honey [28] in particular demand a rapid, sensitive method of detection in various matrices. The application of LC-MS methods to honey samples extracted using sex SPE cartridges has facilitated the analysis of honey for the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides [34,41]. The SPE and LC-MS analysis has shown that honey attributed to known pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing sources can have levels in excess of 5000 jrg/kg honey. Further to this, honey attributed to non-pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing floral sources and unspecified blended honeys can also have significant amounts of alkaloids present. 

Tab. 13.1 Quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides extracted from E. vulgare-derived honey.

The total pyrroUzidine alkaloid content was 2850 143 xg/kg honey (ppb) expressed as equivalents oflasiocarpine-N-oxide forthe N-oxides present and equivalents of lasiocarpine for the tertiary base pyrrolizidine alkaloids present. The assignment of the minor alkaloids leptanthine-N-oxide and echimiplatine-N-oxide may be reversed... 

Many species of Senecio, such as Senecio jacobaea (ragwort) and Senecio longilobus (thread leaf groundsel), contain hepatotoxic amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (which are covered in a separate monograph). Honey made from Senecio plants also contains pjrrolizidine alkaloids (32). 

Deinzer ML, Thomson PA, Burgett DM, Isaacson DL. Pyrrohzidine alkaloids their occurrence in honey from tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaea L.). Science 1977 195(4277) 497-9. 

Edgar, J., Roeder, E., and Molyneux, RJ. 2002. Honey from plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids A potential threat to health. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50, 2719-2730. 

Homoaerothionin, biosynthesis of 1315, 1316 HomocaUxarenes, synthesis of 1376-1381 Homoerysodienones, formation of 1297 B-Homoerythrina alkaloids 1297 synthesis of 1300 Honey, analysis of 961, 973 Horseradish peroxidase 974, 977, 978, 981 as oxidation catalyst 1216, 1217, 1219-1221, 1224, 1225 HPLC, normal phase 953 H-point standard additions method 954 HSZ-360 catalyst 680 Hydrocarbons, aromatic,... 

Harmala extracts were ingested first, with capsules pulled apart before swallowing. Phalaris alkaloids were taken fifteen minutes later, with the gummy extraction redissolved in just enough ethyl alcohol to put it into solution. This was then added to enough honey, hot water and vitamin C to make a tea solution to maximize absorption in the gut... 

Boppre M, Colegate SM, Edgar JA. PyrroUzidine alkaloids of Echium vulgare honey found in pure pollen. J Agr Food Chem 2005 53(3) 594-600. 

Cramer L, Beuerle T. Detection and quantification of pyrroUzidine alkaloids in antibacterial medical honeys. Planta Med 2012 78(18) 1976-82. 

Kempf M, Schreier P, Reinhard A, Beurle T. PyrroUzidine alkaloids in honey and pollen. J Verhrauchersch Lebensm 2010 5(3—4) 393-406. 

Orantes-Bermejo FJ, Bonvehi JS, Gomez-Pajuelo A, Megias M, Torres C. Pyrrolizi-dine alkaloids their occurrence in Spanish honey collected from purple viper s bugloss (Echium spp.). Food Addit Contam Part A - Chem Anal Control Exposure Risk Assessm 2013 30(10) 1799-806. 

Both foraging and feeding were stimulated by not providing the ant colonies with food for 48 hours. Food was then offered to the ants as droplets of honey to which were added 1 or 2 pg of alkaloids in 2 pi of absolute ethanol. In one study, both treated droplets and colonies were randomized for each replicate which compared the repellencies of four alkaloids that included a Solenopsis alkaloid, trans-6-tmdecyl-2-methylpiperidine (36), two Monomorium dialkylpyrrolidines Solenopsis... 

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids also occur in honey made from Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort) and in milk of cattle that feed on this plant. 

Six pynolizidine alkaloids (jacobine, jacozine, jacoline, jaconine, senecionine, seneciphylline) were extracted from honey and separated on a 65 C PRLP-S column (APCI positive ion MS) using a 30-min 90/10 10/90 water (0.1 M ammonium... 

Other foods can also be contaminated with PAs and are, therefore, a potential hazard for humans. Milk was shown to be a source for a PA intoxication in a case where the milk-producing animals had access to PA containing feed (hay, silage) [22-30]. Human milk from women exposed to pyrrolizidine alkaloids has caused veno-occlusive disease in neonates and infants [31]. Honey has become of increased importance as it could be shown that, in commercial products, levels of PAs were found which exceeded tolerable values. Here, pollen seems to be the pathway of contamination [31-37]. 

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