Exploring Hepatotoxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Crotalaria Verrucosa (L.) from Taiwan

[[abstract]]Crotalaria verrucosa (L.) (Blue Brotalaria and Warty Rattlebox) is a Leguminosae plant. It is used in Chinese medicine for effectiveness in cooling, detoxification and swelling. The previous study indicate C. verrucosa contained pyrrolizidine alkaloids(PAs). In this study, we collected C. verrucosa from several towns in Taiwan. Samples were extracted with aqueous acid and purified by strong strong cation-exchange, solid-phase extraction (SCX-SPE). The qualitative analysis of PAs ware carried out by GC-MS method. The result shows the C. verrucosa contained eight PAs, including retronecine bases, 9-angeloylretroncine, unknown PA, hemijunceine and isohemijunceine A~C; otonecine bases, crotaverrine、crotaverrine isomer、O12-acetylcrotaverrine (neoligularidine) and ligularidine. Quantitation of the individual PA was determined by linear regression curves. The standards of senkirkine and senecionine were used to establish the calibration curves. The total concentration of PAs was estimated to be (4.24～42.41 μg/g Herb). crotaverrine and O12-acetylcrotaverrine (neoligularidine) figured as two major PAs (1.68~18.13 and 0.76~19.59 μg/g Herb) in C. verrucosa. The results of this study will provide important information regarding the health risk of intake C. verrucosa. containing PAs