Biopolym. Cell. 2002; 18(6):478-484.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.00062A
Reviews
Potato glycoalkaloids: dissemination, physical and chemical properties, toxicity and methods of detection
1Nazarenko E. A., 1Skryshevskaya I. V., 1Korpan Ya. I.
  1. Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine
    150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03680

Abstract

Some aspects concerning the potato glycoalkaloids toxicity are discussed, in particular, the classification, physical and chemical properties, environmental dissemination, toxic effects and risk factors, known and novel methods for the glycoatkaloid determination in food and biological fluids. An attempt has been made to answer a Question of vital importance – whether potato glycoalkaloids are dangerous for humans and animals and, if yes – to what extent.
Full text: (PDF, in Russian)

References

[1] Morgan MR, Coxon DT. Tolerances: glykoalkaloids in potatoes. Natural toxicants in food progr. and prospects. Ed. D. H. Watson-Weinheim: VCH, 1987: 221-30.
[2] Phillips BJ, Hughes JA, Phillips JC, Walters DG, Anderson D, Tahourdin CS. A study of the toxic hazard that might be associated with the consumption of green potato tops. Food Chem Toxicol. 1996;34(5):439-48.
[3] Slanina P. Solanine (glycoalkaloids) in potatoes: toxicological evaluation. Food Chem Toxicol. 1990;28(11):759-61.
[4] Wolf MJ, Duggar BM. Estimation and physiological role of solanine in the potato. J Agric Res. 1946;73:1-32.
[5] Jadhav SJ, Sharma RP, Salunkhe DK. Naturally occurring toxic alkaloids in foods. Crit Rev Toxicol. 1981;9(1):21-104.
[6] Schwarze P. Methods for identification and determination of solanine in potato breeding material. Zuechter. 1962; 32: 155-160.
[7] Allen EH, Kuc J. a-Solanine and a-chaconine as fungitoxic compounds in extracts of Irish potato tubers. Phytopathology. 1968;58: 776-781.
[8] Sinden SL, Sanford LL, Osman SF. Glycoalkaloids and resistance to the Colorado potato beetle in Solanum chacoense Bitter. Am Potato J. 1980;57(7):331–43.
[9] Tingey WM. Glycoalkaloids as pest resistance factors. Am Potato J. 1984;61(3):157–67.
[10] Friedman M. Composition and safety evaluation of potato berries, potato and tomato seeds, potatoes, and potato alkaloids. Food Safety Assessment, ACS Symp. Ser. 1992; 484: 429-462.
[11] Guseva AR, Paseshnichenko VA. [Quantitative determination of gluco-alkaloids in potatoes and their separation]. Biokhimiia. 1956;21(5):585-90.
[12] NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences). Information profile for NIEHS nominations on chemicals to the national toxicology program for a-chaconine. New York, 1997. 3 p.
[13] NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences). Information profile for NIEHS nominations on chemicals to the national toxicology program for a-solanine. New York, 1997. 3 p.
[14] Solanine I Ed. S. Budavari. New York: Merck and Co., Inc., 1996.
[15] Brain KR, Turner TD. Toxic fruits in frozen peas. J Assoc Public Anal. 1971;9: 100-1.
[16] Zaletskaya BG, Golynskaya LA, Zaletskii VN. Changes in the contents of glycoalkaloids during the manufacture, and storage of dried potato puree. Konserv. Ovoshchesush. Proms. 1977; 1: 13-4.
[17] Morris SC, Lee TH. The toxicity and teratogenicity of Solanaceae glycoalkaloids, particularly those of the potato (Solanum tuberosum). Food Technol Austral. 1984; 36(3): 118-24.
[18] Rothe JC. Illness following the eating of potatoes containing solanine. Z Hyg. 1918; 88: 1-10.
[19] Harris FW, Cockburn T. Alleged poisoning by potatoes. Am J Pharmacol. 1918; 90: 722-26.
[20] Hansen AA. Two fatal cases of potato poisoning. Science. 1925;61(1578):340-1.
[21] Wilson GS. A small outbreak of solanine poisoning. Mon Bull Minist Health Public Health Lab Serv. 1959;18:207-10.
[22] McMillan M, Thompson JC. An outbreak of suspected solanine poisoning in schoolboys: Examinations of criteria of solanine poisoning. Q J Med. 1979;48(190):227-43.
[23] Anonymous. Solanine food poisoning associated with a school lunch program. Diseases weekly report, health and welfare (Canada). Alberta, 1984; 71: 10-8.
[24] Hellen?s K-E, Nyman A, Slanina P, L??f L, Gabrielsson J. Determination of potato glycoalkaloids and their aglycone in blood serum by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr B: 1992;573(1):69–78.
[25] Nishie K, Gumbmann MR, Keyl AC. Pharmacology of solanine. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1971;19(1):81-92.
[26] Patil BC, Sharma RP, Salunkhe DK, Salunkhe K. Evaluation of solanine toxicity. Food Cosmet Toxicol. 1972;10(3):395-8.
[27] Terbruggen A. Deadly solanine poisoning and a report on the meaning of brain swelling with decreased skull capacity. Beitr Pathol Anat Allg Pathol. 1936; 97: 391-5.
[28] Willimott SG. An investigation of solanine poisoning. Analyst. 1933; 58(689): 431-8.
[29] Bomer A, Mattis H. Solanine content of potatoes. Z. Unters. Nahr. Genussm. Gebrauchsgegenstande. 1924; 47: 97-127.
[30] Whittaker M. Pseudocholinesterase variants: a study of forteen families selected via the fluoride resistant phenotype. Acta genet statist med. 1967; 17: 1-12.
[31] Rayburn JR, Friedman M, Bantle JA. Synergistic interaction of glycoalkaloids alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine on developmental toxicity in Xenopus embryos. Food Chem Toxicol. 1995;33(12):1013-9.
[32] Aubert S, Daunay M, Pochard E. Saponins and steroidal alkaloids of eggplant (Solanum melongena). J Food Interest Analyt Meth Localization in Fruit Agronomie. 1989; 9: 641-51.
[33] Nigg HN, Ramos LE, Graham EM, Sterling J, Brown S, Cornell JA. Inhibition of human plasma and serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) by alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1996;33(2):272-81.
[34] Friedman M, Dao L. Distribution of glycoalkaloids in potato plants and commercial potato products. J Agric Food Chem. 1992;40(3):419–23.
[35] Sharma R, Salunkhe D. Solanum glycoalkaloids. Toxicants of plant origin. Alkaloids. Ed. P. R. Cheeke. Boca Raton: CRS press, 1989. Vol. I: 179-236.
[36] Clement E, Verbist JF. Determination of solanine in Solanum tuberosum L. tubers: comparative study of 9 colorimetric methods. Lebensmitt. Wiss.+Technol. 1989; 13: 202-6.
[37] Chen S, Derrick PJ, Mellon FA, Price KR. Analysis of glycoalkaloids from potato shoots and tomatoes by four-sector tandem mass spectrometry with scanning-array detection: comparison of positive ion and negative ion methods. Anal Biochem. 1994;218(1):157-69.
[38] Ferreira F, Moyna P, Soule S, V?zquez A. Rapid determination of solanum glycoalkaloids by thin-layer chromatographic scanning. J Chromatogr A. 1993;653(2):380–4.
[39] Simonovska B, Vovk I. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of potato glycoalkaloids. J Chromatogr A. 2000;903(1-2):219-25.
[40] Herb SF, Fitzpatrick TJ, Osman SF. Separation of potato glycoalkaloids by gas chromatography. J Agric Food Chem. 1975;23(3):520-3.
[41] Hellen?s KE, Branzell C. Liquid chromatographic determination of the glycoalkaloids alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine in potato tubers: NMKL Interlaboratory Study. Nordic Committee on Food Analysis. J AOAC Int. 1997;80(3):549-54.
[42] Sotelo A, Serrano B. High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of the Glycoalkaloids ?-Solanine and ?-Chaconine in 12 Commercial Varieties of Mexican Potato. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48(6):2472–5.
[43] Pat. USA. US 5614408. Monoclonal antibodies to potato, tomato, and eggplant glycoalkaloids and assays for the same. L. H. Stanker, C. K. Holtzapple. Publ. April 24, 1997.
[44] Plhak LC, Sporns P. Enzyme immunoassay for potato glycoalkaloids. J Agric Food Chem. 1992;40(12):2533–40.
[45] El'skay GV, Korpan YaI. Biosensor Technology: Realities and Prospects. Visn NAN Ukrainy. 2000; (3):36-40.
[46] Korpan Y, Volotovsky V, Martelet C, Jaffrezic-Renault N, Nazarenko E, El’skaya A, Soldatkin A. A novel enzyme biosensor for steroidal glycoalkaloids detection based on pH-sensitive field effect transistors. Bioelectrochemistry. 2002;55(1-2):9–11.