The risk of weeds as sources of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation

BAHADIRLI N. P., Gurbuz R., Alptekin H., Nas M. S., Sekeroglu N.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS, cilt.53, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are widely used across the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and food sectors; however, their safety is increasingly challenged by contamination with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), toxic secondary metabolites primarily synthesized by certain weed species. This review synthesizes recent literature and systematically evaluates Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications from 2020 to 2025 to assess the occurrence, contamination pathways, and mitigation strategies of PAs in MAPs. The compiled evidence identifies oregano (Origanum spp.) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) as the most frequently reported commodities, with T & uuml;rkiye and India emerging as leading countries in terms of notification frequency. The findings indicate that contamination is predominantly associated with the co-harvesting of PA-producing weeds, particularly species of Senecio, Heliotropium, Echium, and Crotalaria genus, whose reproductive tissues contain elevated alkaloid concentrations. While plant-to-plant transfer via soil or rhizosphere interactions has been demonstrated under controlled experimental conditions, its relevance under field conditions appears limited. Additional contamination risks may arise during post-harvest stages, including drying, processing, and storage. Effective mitigation requires a preventive, system-oriented approach integrating early detection and removal of PA-producing weeds with integrated weed management (IWM) strategies and appropriate post-harvest control measures. In parallel, analytical monitoring plays a critical role in evaluating mitigation effectiveness and ensuring regulatory compliance. Overall, PA contamination in MAPs should be considered a multifactorial issue driven by weed ecology, production practices, and supply chain dynamics. Addressing this challenge requires a shift toward preventive, knowledge-based strategies that integrate agronomic management, analytical monitoring, and regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and sustainable MAP production systems.