Planta Med 2012; 78 - PI156
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320844

Profiling of Alkaloids and Eremophilanes in Miracle Tea (Packera candidissima and P. bellidifolia) Products

M Fragoso-Serrano 1, G Figueroa-González 1, R Pereda-Miranda 1
  • 1Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, 04510 DF, Mexico

Commercial preparations of the Mexican herbal drug known as “miracle tea” (Packera candidissima and P. bellidifolia) have been profiled qualitatively by HPLC and GC-MS. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were identified in the alkaloid extracts. The content of free PAs and their N-oxides was determined for a total of 22 samples and the results showed that the amount of these hepatotoxic compounds (0.0005–0.94% free PAs; 0.0004–0.55% N-oxides), through the presence of retrorsine (1) and senesionine (2) as the main constituents, may reach toxic levels. Eremophilanes (3-7) were the major components found in the hexane-soluble fraction. Financial Support: CONACyT (101380-Q).