ALKALOID CONTENT OF SOME POTENTIAL
ISOFLAVONOIDS SOURCES (NATIVE GENISTA
SPECIES). LONG-TERM SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
AMELIA TERO-VESCAN1, CAMIL-EUGEN VARI2*, LAURIAN
VLASE3
1University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureş, Faculty of
Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, 38th Gheorghe
Marinescu Street, Tîrgu Mureş, Mureş, 540139
2University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureş, Faculty of
Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacolgy and Clinical Pharmacy, 38th
Gheorghe Marinescu Street, Tîrgu Mureş, Mureş, 540139
3University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Haţieganu", Faculty of
Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and
Biopharmaceutics, 13th, Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj 400023
*corresponding author: camil.vari@umftgm.ro
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Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to determine the quinolizidine alkaloids content –
cytisine and sparteine – of some Genista extracts, using both extraction methods specific
for alkaloids and for isoflavonoids. Genista species are known to be sources of
isoflavonoids, but the risk of concomitant extraction of alkaloids was not assessed. A LCMS/
MS method with electrospray ionisation was used and cytisine levels between 0.093 to
6.588 mg/100 g dry plant were obtained, while sparteine was present only in trace amounts.
This content is not toxic to humans at an isoflavonoids content recommended for daily
intake, but is close to therapeutic levels (use to treat tobacco addiction). As a result of this
study, unpurified extracts of native species of Genista are not recommended for
phytoestrogenic effects.

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