Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in borage (Borago officinalis): Comprehensive profiling and development of a validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification

Melinda Sattler; Volker Müller; Diana Bunzel; Sabine E Kulling; Sebastian T Soukup

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124425

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in borage (Borago officinalis): Comprehensive profiling and development of a validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification

Talanta. 2023 Jun 1:258:124425. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124425. Epub 2023 Mar 7.

Authors

Melinda Sattler¹, Volker Müller¹, Diana Bunzel¹, Sabine E Kulling¹, Sebastian T Soukup²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Haid-und-Neu-Straße 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
² Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Haid-und-Neu-Straße 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: sebastian.soukup@mri.bund.de.

PMID: 36924638
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124425

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) from borage (Borago officinalis) consumed as herb and tea, may pose a food safety risk. Therefore, the European Union (EU) set maximum levels of PA in borage, among other foodstuffs, which are applicable since July 1^st, 2022. Here, a comprehensive LC-MS/MS based profiling of PA and their N-oxides (PANO) in B. officinalis leaves is presented. Based on these results a targeted, quantitative LC-MS/MS method for the determination of individual PA/PANO present in borage was developed. Chromatographic separation was achieved for all PA/PANO detected in B. officinalis. An easy and fast extraction procedure was developed using a design of experiments approach (DOE). The most efficient extraction was achieved using 0.2% formic acid in 10% methanol at a temperature of 47.5 °C for 60 min. The final method was validated and showed good overall accuracy (recoveries 85-121%) and precision (RDS ≤11%). The method was applied to B. officinalis leave material, demonstrating its suitability for the intended purpose. In these borage samples, the acetylated forms, which are not regulated by EU, were among the quantitatively most relevant PA.

Keywords: Borage; Borago officinalis; Design of experiment; Extraction efficiency; Food safety; Pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

MeSH terms

Borago* / chemistry
Chromatography, Liquid
European Union
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids* / analysis
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids* / chemistry
Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids