Interdisciplinary Research on Plants Containing Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
Of the approximately 350 known representatives of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) group, around 100 are acutely and chronically hepatotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic. PA are produced by a large number of higher plants, with a particular prevalence in the Asteraceae and Boraginaceae families. Highly toxic PA are found in the genera Senecio and Jacobea.