A botanical census on pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing species in Brazilian herbaria: data set for a potential health risk indication

Abstract This study accessed the informational potential of herbaria collections as a tool for establishing an indication of the distribution of species that produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are considered natural toxins, in Brazil. A total of 55,480 registered exsiccates were recorded, comprising species belonging to 17 genera, including Ipomoea (33.2%) (Convolvulaceae), Crotalaria (23.8%) (Fabaceae), Eupatorium (16.4%), Senecio (13.4%), Erechtites (3.97%) (Asteraceae) and Pleurothallis (8.28%) (Orchidaceae). These records were more densely distributed in the herbaria of the southeastern (30%), southern (28%) and northeastern (24%) Brazilian states. PAs are toxic to animals in general and display high potential for contamination of human food-production chains. A qualitative relationship was evidenced when carrying out a simultaneous compilation of cases of livestock intoxicated by the ingestion of these species, evidencing risks associated with PA-contaminated foodstuffs such as cereals, meats, milks and honey. The botanical census carried out herein is aimed at supporting a prospective study on the health risk presented by PA-producing species while bringing about indicators for their distribution in Brazil. This previously unpublished approach highlights the value of multidisciplinary information incorporated into herbaria botanical collections, with possible impacts on public health.

摘要 本研究探究了植物标本馆馆藏作为工具的信息潜力，用于明确巴西境内产吡咯里西啶生物碱（pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs）物种的分布特征，这类生物碱被认定为天然毒素。本次研究共记录了55480份已登记的腊叶标本，涵盖17个属的物种，其中番薯属（Ipomoea，旋花科Convolvulaceae）占比33.2%、猪屎豆属（Crotalaria，豆科Fabaceae）占比23.8%、泽兰属（Eupatorium）占比16.4%、千里光属（Senecio）占比13.4%、一点红属（Erechtites，菊科Asteraceae）占比3.97%以及肋茎兰属（Pleurothallis，兰科Orchidaceae）占比8.28%。这些标本记录在巴西东南部（30%）、南部（28%）与东北部（24%）的州立标本馆中分布更为密集。吡咯里西啶生物碱对多数动物具有毒性，且具备极高的人类食品供应链污染风险。本研究同时汇编了因误食此类物种引发家畜中毒的案例，由此证实了二者间的定性关联，同时揭示了谷物、肉类、奶类及蜂蜜等受PA污染食品相关的健康风险。本次开展的植物普查旨在为产PA物种的健康风险前瞻性研究提供支撑，并为这类物种在巴西的分布提供相关指标。这一此前未被采用的研究方法凸显了植物标本馆馆藏中多学科信息的价值，其研究结果可能对公共卫生领域产生影响。