Toxicity of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids - a Serious Health Problem

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are toxic for human and livestock. The PAs undergo a metabolic toxication process in the liver which is the first target organ for PA poisoning. World-wide many incidents of PA intoxications in humans have been reported. This intoxication is not only related to the amount and duration of the exposure but also to age and gender. Besides the metabolic toxication, detoxication processes are also important. The paper discusses the toxication and detoxication processes and gives an overview about PA poisoning cases in humans.