Screening of drugs and homeopathic products from Atropa belladonna seed extracts: Tropane alkaloids determination and untargeted analysis

Abstract

Homeopathic products are still a controversial issue in modern medicine, understood as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). In this particular case, homeopathic products prepared from Atropa belladonna extracts may present specific problems due to the effects derived from its components. This article applies a simple, rapid, reliable method to the analysis of different homeopathic products obtained from Atropa belladonna; drugs containing high concentration of plant extracts; and Atropa belladonna seeds. The method was based on a simple solid-phase preconcentration method followed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry using Exactive-Orbitrap as an analyser. An in-house database was set and atropine and scopolamine were the compounds detected at highest concentrations in homeopathic products from Atropa belladonna extracts (4.57 and 2.56 μg/kg, respectively), in Belladonna ointment (4007 and 1139 μg/kg, respectively) and Belladonna seeds (338 and 32.1 mg/kg, respectively). Other tropane alkaloids such as tropine, apoatropine, aposcopolamine, tropinone, homatropine, and anisodamine were detected at lower concentrations (0.04-1.36 μg/kg). When untargeted analysis was performed, other tropane alkaloids were identified in the tested samples, such as ecgonine (0.003 μg/kg), benzoylecgonine (0.56 μg/kg), calystegines A (19.6 μg/kg), B (33.1 μg/kg), and C (1.01 μg/kg). Finally other compounds present in the homeopathic products, such as sugars (fructose, glucose, and lactose) or amino acids (valine, ornithine, leucine, and phenylalanine), were identified.

Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Belladonna

“…Belladonna preparations modulate peritoneal inflammation reactions in mice with increased phagocytosis in groups treated with high potencies. 101 Though these ultradilutions have not been completely characterized because of the sensitivity ranges of analytical instruments, studies have shown that ultradiluted solutions retain the starting materials on the basis of a couple of factors, such as the formation of nanosized bubbles during the process of succession that levitate the particles during the dilution process. All of these uses of belladonna suggest the vast potential of the plant, which may be further exploited for its medicinal values.…”

Chemistry of Secondary Metabolites

“…A closer observing of tropane alkaloids in nourishments is presently prescribed by the European Commission, following a progression of alarms identified with the pollution of buckwheat with weeds of the sort Datura [83]. Homeopathic products arranged from Atropa belladonna concentrates may exhibit explicit issues because of the impacts got from its parts [84]. Scopolialurida, otherwise called Himalayan Scopolia, a local home grown plant species in Tibet, is a standout amongst the best makers of tropane alkaloids.…”

An ultrasound assisted extraction–solid‐phase extraction–ultra‐performance liquid chromatography combined strategy for atropine determination in Atropa belladonna leaves

“…However, both A. belladonna and atropine are known for their toxic effects, also justifying the genus name, derived from Atropos , the Greek goddess of the dead (Kohnen‐Johannsen & Kayser, 2019). Nowadays, A. belladonna is predominantly used in homeopathic preparations (Marín‐Sáez, Romero‐González, Frenich, & Egea‐González, 2018); atropine is used as an antimuscarinic agent that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of poisoning by some insecticides, such as carbamates and organophosphates. In addition, it may be used as an antispasmodic and pre‐anesthetic agent (Marín‐Sáez et al, 2018).…”