Senecio brasiliensis e alcaloides pirrolizidínicos: toxicidade em animais e na saúde humana

Abstract

ResumoNo Brasil, as plantas tóxicas são responsáveis por grande parte dos prejuízos econômicos em animais de produção, principalmente em equinos e bovinos. Nesse contexto, no Rio Grande do Sul, o gênero Senecio, especialmente S. brasiliensis Lessing, merece maior destaque por ser a principal causa de mortes de bovinos adultos. A toxicidade causada por esse gênero vegetal ocorre devido à presença dos alcaloides pirrolizidínicos, os quais sofrem biotransformação no fígado, gerando metabólitos tóxicos: os pirrois. Esses compostos tóxicos podem também ser nocivos para o homem através do consumo de produtos comestíveis, de origem animal, contaminados ou pelo uso dessa planta na medicina popular. Assim, o presente artigo traz uma revisão, em particular de S. brasiliensis com ênfase nos seus princípios ativos tóxicos e no mecanismo pelo qual se desenvolve a patogenia, além de abordar outras plantas que contêm os mesmos princípios tóxicos e que causam efeitos nocivos à saúde humana. Palavras-chave: Alcaloides pirrolizidínicos; Animais de produção; Humanos; Senecio brasiliensis; Toxicidade AbstractSenecio brasiliensis and pyrrolizidine alkaloids: toxicity to animals and human health. Most economic losses in Brazilian livestock production, especially in horses and cattle, are due to poison plants, such as those of the genus Senecio. Senecio brasiliensis Lessing is the main cause of death in cattle in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The toxicity of this genus is attributed to their content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which undergo liver biotransformation creating toxic metabolites, namely pyrroles. These compounds can be transferred to humans through contaminated animal products or by the use of this plant in folk medicine. Thus, the present article is a review of the species S. brasiliensis, its toxic active principles and the mechanism by which pathogenesis occurs. Other plants with the same toxic principles that are harmful to human health are covered as well.

A botanical census on pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing species in Brazilian herbaria: data set for a potential health risk indication

“…Although this issue is of increasing concern to health authorities in many parts of the world, there are still no fully established protocols to support the control of PAs as contaminants in food matrices. Depending on the country or region, this concern has a distinct relevance, ranging from direct consumption of in natura plants, such as teas and medicinal infusions (Andrade et al 2002), common in many places worldwide (Bosi et al 2013), to contamination of basic foods (Prakash et al 1999), such as cereals, meat, milk, eggs (Boppre 2011;Sandini et al 2013) and, mainly, honey (Prakash et al 1999). The latter is considered to be the most susceptible food substrate to PA contamination, with apicultural products being the most likely source for exposure to PA contamination (Bandini & Spisso 2017).…”

Traditional use of medicinal plants by elderly

“…However, participants of the study mentioned its internal use. It is emphasized that this plant has pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are proven hepatotoxic and carcinogenic, and its use was condemned by the World Health Organization after numerous cases of death caused by cirrhosis resulting from hepatic venoocclusive disease, caused by these alkaloids (15) .…”

Plants as Sources of Anti-Inflammatory Agents

“…Alkaloids are considered the most toxic among the several active principles. Some are known and used in scientific therapy, such as morphine, ergotamine, and ephedrine [ 105 ].…”