Detection, dietary exposure assessment and risk evaluation of quinolones and pyrrolizidine alkaloids in commercial honey from Brazil

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary plant metabolites that have already been designated as a potential health risk due to their toxicity. Quinolones are antimicrobials related to bacterial resistance, one of the world's largest contemporary public health problems. This study searched for 22 pyrrolizidine alkaloids and 7 quinolones in honey available for sale in the state of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - employing an analytical method based on LC-Q-TOF-HRMS. No quinolones were identified, while pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found in 39 out of 80 samples, mainly erucifoline (detected in 17% of the samples) and intermedine/lycopsamine (quantified in 27% of the samples). Considering the highest value found, 141.8 µg kg^-1 for senecionine and a consumption of 20 g of honey per person per day, the dietary exposure reached 47.3 ng kg^-1, resulting in a MOE value of 5.010, that might lead to a risk for human health.

Keywords: Phytotoxins; antimicrobials; food safety; secondary metabolites; veterinary drugs.