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Scientific Article details

Title The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids
ID_Doc 19716
Authors Mateus, ARS; Crisafulli, C; Vilhena, M; Barros, SC; Pena, A; Silva, AS
Title The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids
Year 2023
Published Toxins, 15.0, 4
DOI 10.3390/toxins15040245
Abstract 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).
Author Keywords herbal infusions; tropane alkaloids; validation; QuEChERS; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography; time-of-flight mass spectrometry; antioxidant capacity
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000979547600001
WoS Category Food Science & Technology; Toxicology
Research Area Food Science & Technology; Toxicology
PDF https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/15/4/245/pdf?version=1679910013
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