Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Toxic Microelements in Above-Ground Parts of Nonea rossica (Boraginaceae)

Nonea rossica Steven is an herbaceous perennial of the family Boraginaceae and is of interest as a source of herbal medicine raw material in view of its indirect anticoagulant properties and antimicrobial and antifungal activities. At the same time, Boraginaceae species are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that have a hepatotoxic effect, which makes it problematic to use plant-derived preparations. Along with alkaloids, toxic trace elements contribute to toxicity of herbal preparations. The objective of this work was to study the toxic components in the N. rossica above-ground parts. The composition and content of alkaloids were determined by HPLC. Quantitative determination of trace elements was carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The pyrrolizidine enantiomers intermedine and lycopsamine and their derivatives were detected; their total content in plant raw materials was less than 20 000 μg/kg. The content of toxic elements, such as As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Be, Sr, Sb, Tl, and U, did not exceed legally permissible concentrations.