Planta Med 2024; 90(03): 219-242
DOI: 10.1055/a-2218-5667
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Reviews

Toxins in Botanical Drugs and Plant-derived Food and Feed – from Science to Regulation: A Workshop Review

Dieter Schrenk
1   Food Chemistry and Toxicology, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
,
Ashley Allemang
2   Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
,
Jörg Fahrer
1   Food Chemistry and Toxicology, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
,
Henrik Harms
3   Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Bonn, Germany
,
Xilin Li
4   Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, USA
,
Ge Lin
5   School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
,
Catherine Mahony
6   Central Product Safety, Procter & Gamble Technical Centre, Reading, United Kingdom
,
Patrick Mulder
7   Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
,
Ad Peijnenburg
7   Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
,
Stefan Pfuhler
2   Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
,
Ans Punt
7   Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
,
Hartwig Sievers
8   PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG, Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany
,
John Troutman
2   Central Product Safety, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, USA
,
9   Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
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Abstract

In September 2022, the 3rd International Workshop on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and related phytotoxins was held on-line, entitled ʼToxins in botanical drugs and plant-derived food and feed – from science to regulationʼ. The workshop focused on new findings about the occurrence, exposure, toxicity, and risk assessment of PAs. In addition, new scientific results related to the risk assessment of alkenylbenzenes, a distinct class of herbal constituents, were presented. The presence of PAs and alkenylbenzenes in plant-derived food, feed, and herbal medicines has raised health concerns with respect to their acute and chronic toxicity but mainly related to the genotoxic and carcinogenic properties of several congeners. The compounds are natural constituents of a variety of plant families and species widely used in medicinal, food, and feed products. Their individual occurrence, levels, and toxic properties, together with the broad range of congeners present in nature, represent a striking challenge to modern toxicology. This review tries to provide an overview of the current knowledge on these compounds and indicates needs and perspectives for future research.



Publication History

Received: 17 September 2023

Accepted after revision: 23 November 2023

Article published online:
10 January 2024

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