Some toxic properties of a carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, petasitenine.

Genotoxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

“…The liver is the main carcinogenic target. However, tumors induced by PAs also were found in lung, kidney, skin, bladder, brain and spinal cord, pancreatic islets and adrenal gland (Allen et al, 1975;Brandange et al, 1970;Chan et al, 1994;Cook et al, 1950;Furuya et al, 1976;Harris and Chen, 1970;Hirono et al, 1976Hirono et al, , 1977Hirono et al, , 1978Hirono et al, , 1979Hirono et al, , 1983Johnson et al, 1978;Kuhara et al, 1980;Mattocks and Cabral, 1982;Mori et al, 1984;Peterson et al, 1983;Rao et al, 1983;Rao and Reddy, 1978;Schoental, 1975;Schoental and Cavanagh, 1972;Schoental et al, 1954Schoental et al, , 1970Schoental et al, , 1971Schoental and Head, 1957;Shumaker et al, 1976;Reddy, 1972, 1974;Williams, 1970). Despite no clear evidence that PAs induce tumors in humans, the frequent occurrence of primary liver tumors in the natives of Central Africa and South Africa has been associated with the consumption of traditional medicinal PA-containing plants (Pavlica and Samuel, 1970;Schoental, 1968;Schoental and Coady, 1968;Williams et al, 1967).…”

The invasive butterbur contaminates stream and seepage water in groundwater wells with toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids

“…When ingested, PAs with an unsaturated bond in 1,2 position of the necine unit ( Fig. 1) (hereafter called unsaturated PAs) metabolically oxidize and react with proteins and nucleic acids [43][44][45][46] resulting in hepatotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects 16,37,41,[46][47][48][49][50] .…”

Japanese Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) Leaves Increase Hepatic Oxidative Stress in Male Rats

“…9,12) The most toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are classified into three types the retronecine type, the heliotridine type, and the otonecine type. 17) Among these, the retronecine type, including senecionine and integerrmine, are reported to be major pyrrolizidine alkaloids in butterbur species, 33,34) although at low levels.…”

“…4,8) However, butterbur species are known to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, [9][10][11] which are perhaps carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and mutagenic. 9,12) The metabolic formation of reactive pyrrolic ester metabolites, catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases (CYP), is primarily responsible for the hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in experimental animals. 13) In addition to these adverse effects, long-term exposure to these alkaloids can cause cell enlargement, metabolic disturbances, and fatty degeneration.…”