The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids.
Ana Rita Soares MateusCarmen CrisafulliMatilde VilhenaSílvia Cruz BarrosAngelina PenaAna Sanches SilvaPublished in: Toxins (2023)
Herbal infusions are highly popular beverages consumed daily due to their health benefits and antioxidant properties. However, the presence of plant toxins, such as tropane alkaloids, constitutes a recent health concern for herbal infusions. This work presents an optimized and validated methodology based on the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction procedure followed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography combined with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ToF-MS) for the determination of tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine, and homatropine) in herbal infusions, in accordance with criteria established by Commission Recommendation EU No. 2015/976. One of the seventeen samples was contaminated with atropine, exceeding the current European regulation regarding tropane alkaloids. In addition, this study evaluated the antioxidant capacity of common herbal infusions available on Portuguese markets, indicating the high antioxidant capacity of yerba mate ( Ilex paraguariensis) , lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), and peppermint ( Mentha x piperita ).
Keyphrases
- ultra high performance liquid chromatography
- tandem mass spectrometry
- solid phase extraction
- simultaneous determination
- ms ms
- healthcare
- public health
- high resolution mass spectrometry
- mental health
- high performance liquid chromatography
- liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- heavy metals
- molecularly imprinted
- health information
- liquid chromatography
- gas chromatography mass spectrometry
- minimally invasive
- oxidative stress
- drinking water
- health promotion
- human health
- essential oil
- climate change