Analyse Qualitative Et Quantitative Des Alcaloïdes Pyrrolizidiniques Chez Quelques Asteraceae, Boraginaceae Et Leguminosae Utilisées En Médecine Traditionnelle En Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) are toxic for human and livestock. Several outbreaks in human intoxications were reported worldwide. This study aimed at assessing the presence and quantifying the PAs in some Asteraceae, Boraginaceae and Leguminosae used in traditional medicine in Côte d'Ivoire. TLC detection with Ehrlich reagent (method of Mattocks) and spectrophotometric dosage were used to analyze 21 plants species. All the studied plants showed at least trace amount of PAs except Caesalpinia bonduc, Parkia filicoidea and Pilostigma thonningii. The contents obtained ranged between 0.261 and 1.518 mg/ml. However, for the majority of the studied plant species, there was a significant difference between aqueous and methanol extracts. The richest species were Heliotropium indicum, Tridax procumbens and Vernonia colorata. The presence of PAs in the studied plants is an indication of people exposure to probable toxicity. This raises the need for an evaluation of the risk related to the consumption of such medicinal plants in Côte d'Ivoire.