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Article

The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids

by
Ana Rita Soares Mateus
1,2,3,4,
Carmen Crisafulli
1,
Matilde Vilhena
1,2,
Sílvia Cruz Barros
1,
Angelina Pena
2,3 and
Ana Sanches Silva
1,2,4,5,*
1
National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), I.P., Rua dos Lagidos, Lugar da Madalena, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal
2
University of Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Polo III, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
3
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
4
Center for Study in Animal Science (CECA), ICETA, University of Porto, Apartado, 4050-346 Porto, Portugal
5
Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Al4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxins 2023, 15(4), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040245
Submission received: 30 January 2023 / Revised: 10 March 2023 / Accepted: 21 March 2023 / Published: 27 March 2023
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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).
Keywords: herbal infusions; tropane alkaloids; validation; QuEChERS; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography; time-of-flight mass spectrometry; antioxidant capacity herbal infusions; tropane alkaloids; validation; QuEChERS; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography; time-of-flight mass spectrometry; antioxidant capacity
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MDPI and ACS Style

Mateus, A.R.S.; Crisafulli, C.; Vilhena, M.; Barros, S.C.; Pena, A.; Sanches Silva, A. The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids. Toxins 2023, 15, 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040245

AMA Style

Mateus ARS, Crisafulli C, Vilhena M, Barros SC, Pena A, Sanches Silva A. The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids. Toxins. 2023; 15(4):245. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040245

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mateus, Ana Rita Soares, Carmen Crisafulli, Matilde Vilhena, Sílvia Cruz Barros, Angelina Pena, and Ana Sanches Silva. 2023. "The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids" Toxins 15, no. 4: 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040245

APA Style

Mateus, A. R. S., Crisafulli, C., Vilhena, M., Barros, S. C., Pena, A., & Sanches Silva, A. (2023). The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids. Toxins, 15(4), 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15040245

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