Determination and regulation of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food: A critical review of recent research

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites of plants. PAs have been reported to be hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic; they are a significant group of natural toxins affecting livestock, wildlife, and humans. To date, over 10,000 PAs poisoning cases have been reported worldwide. In recent years, many articles have reported the detection of PAs in various foods, including honey, milk, meat, eggs, tea and salad. This review summarized the contamination of PAs in foods, state of the art detection methods and regulations by different countries and authorities, hoping to propose effective solutions to minimize the consumption of PAs in food.