The alkaloid content of Adenostyles alliariae and A. glabra (Asteraceae) has been evaluated. Both species contain toxic macrocyclic unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids with seneciphylline as the main compound accounting for more than 90% of the alkaloid fraction in all above ground plant parts. Further alkaloids were spartioidine, acetyl-senciphylline and senecionine. Inflorescences showed the highest alkaloid contents with 21.1 and 13.4 mg/g in A. alliariae and A. glabra, respectively. Stems and leaves had 2–3 times lower contents. Therefore, these Adenostyles species must be considered as highly toxic plants.
FischerMA, AdlerW, OswaldK. (2005) Exkursionsflora für Österreich. Liechtenstein und Südtirol, 2nd edition. Land Oberösterreich. Biologiezentrum der OÖ Landesmuseen. Linz. Austria. 804–844.
2.
RoederE, PlassmeierC. (1991) Pyrrolizidin-Alkaloide der Gattung Adenostyles. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 59, 301–306.
3.
FuPP, XiaQ, LinG, ChouMW. (2004) Pyrrolizidine alkaloids - genotoxicity, metabolism enzymes, metabolic activation, and mechanism. Drug Metabolism Reviews, 36, 1–55.
4.
WiedenfeldH. (2011) Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids: toxicity and problems. Food Additives and Contaminants, 28, 282–292.
5.
WiedenfeldH, EdgarJ. (2011) Toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids to humans and ruminants. Phytochemistry Reviews, 10, 137–151.
6.
SperlW, StuppnerH, GassnerI, JudmaierW, DietzeO, VogelW. (1995) Reversible hepatic veno-occlusive disease in an infant after consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing herbal tea. European Journal of Pediatrics, 154, 112–116.
7.
HartmannT, ZimmerM. (1986) Organ-specific distribution and accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids during the life history of two annual Senecio species. Journal of Plant Physiology, 122, 67–80.
8.
ChizzolaR, EcklD, BasslerG, KriechbaumM. (2010) Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio species from the urban area of Vienna (Austria). P045. Planta Medica, 76, 1204.
9.
StuppnerH, GriesserUJ. (1995) Morphology, anatomy and pyrrolizidine alkaloid content of Adenostyles alliariae and Adenostyles glabra. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 63, 43–56.
10.
HägeleBF, Rowell-RahierM. (1999) Genetic and environmental-based variability in secondary metabolite leaf content of Adenostyles alliariae and A. alpina (Asteraceae). A test of the resource availability hypothesis. Oikos, 85, 234–246.
11.
JohnsonAE, MolyneuxRJ, MerillGB. (1985) Chemistry of toxic range plants: Variation in pyrrolizidine alkaloid content of Senecio, Amsinckia and Crotalaria species. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 33, 50–55.
12.
McLaffertyFW. (1989) Registry of mass spectral data. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
13.
HartmannT, DierichB. (1998) Chemical diversity and variation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids of the Senecionine type: biological need or coincidence?Planta, 206, 443–451.
14.
WitteL, ErnstL, AdamH, HartmannT. (1992) Chemotypes of two pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing Senecio species. Phytochemistry, 31, 559–565.
15.
WitteL, RubioloP, BicchiC, HartmannT. (1993) Comparative analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from natural sources by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Phytochemistry, 32, 187–196.
