Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus

F. J. Van Schalkwyk; M. A. Stander; M. Nsizwane; A. Mathee; B. E. Van Wyk

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680

Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus

F. J. Van Schalkwyk, M. A. Stander, M. Nsizwane, A. Mathee, B. E. Van Wyk

Botany and Plant Biotechnology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Senecio coronatus (known as izonkozonko and ubulibazi in Zulu) is commonly used in traditional medicine in South Africa as purification purgative and enemas for infants during weaning. We show for the first time that this species does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and that reported cases of fatal hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in infants were caused by wrongly identified Senecio species containing large amounts of retrorsine-N-oxide. A validated ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is described.

Original language	English
Article number	110680
Journal	Forensic Science International
Volume	320
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

Keywords

LCMS
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Retrorsine-N-oxide
Senecio coronatus
Traditional medicine
UPLC-MS/MS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pathology and Forensic Medicine

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680

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title = "Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus",

abstract = "Senecio coronatus (known as izonkozonko and ubulibazi in Zulu) is commonly used in traditional medicine in South Africa as purification purgative and enemas for infants during weaning. We show for the first time that this species does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and that reported cases of fatal hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in infants were caused by wrongly identified Senecio species containing large amounts of retrorsine-N-oxide. A validated ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is described.",

keywords = "LCMS, Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, Retrorsine-N-oxide, Senecio coronatus, Traditional medicine, UPLC-MS/MS",

author = "{Van Schalkwyk}, {F. J.} and Stander, {M. A.} and M. Nsizwane and A. Mathee and {Van Wyk}, {B. E.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680",

language = "English",

volume = "320",

journal = "Forensic Science International",

issn = "0379-0738",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus

AU - Van Schalkwyk, F. J.

AU - Stander, M. A.

AU - Nsizwane, M.

AU - Mathee, A.

AU - Van Wyk, B. E.

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - Senecio coronatus (known as izonkozonko and ubulibazi in Zulu) is commonly used in traditional medicine in South Africa as purification purgative and enemas for infants during weaning. We show for the first time that this species does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and that reported cases of fatal hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in infants were caused by wrongly identified Senecio species containing large amounts of retrorsine-N-oxide. A validated ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is described.

AB - Senecio coronatus (known as izonkozonko and ubulibazi in Zulu) is commonly used in traditional medicine in South Africa as purification purgative and enemas for infants during weaning. We show for the first time that this species does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and that reported cases of fatal hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in infants were caused by wrongly identified Senecio species containing large amounts of retrorsine-N-oxide. A validated ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is described.

KW - LCMS

KW - Pyrrolizidine alkaloids

KW - Retrorsine-N-oxide

KW - Senecio coronatus

KW - Traditional medicine

KW - UPLC-MS/MS

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U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680

DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110680

M3 - Article

C2 - 33461004

AN - SCOPUS:85100174165

SN - 0379-0738

VL - 320

JO - Forensic Science International

JF - Forensic Science International

M1 - 110680

ER -

Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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