Abstract

Determination of Α- and Β-Thujone in Wormwood and Sage Infusions of Greek Flora and Estimation of their Average Toxicity

Νefeli-Sofia D.Sotiropoulou¹, Maria Κ.Kokkini¹, Stiliani-Fani P.Megremi¹, Dimitra J.Daferera¹, Efstathia P. Skotti^1,2, Athanasios C. Kimbaris³, Moschos G.Polissiou¹ and Petros A.Tarantilis¹*

¹Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 118 55, Greece
²Department of Food Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, GR 28100 Kefallonia, Greece
³Laboratory of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Agricultural Development Democritus University of Thrace 193, Pantazidou str 68200, N. Orestiada, Greece.

Corresponding Author Email: ptara@aua.gr

Abstract:

Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) and Salvia sp. (sage) are used as additives to pharmaceuticals, food and alcoholic beverages while in Greece both herbs are also consumed as infusions. The compounds α- and β-thujone, are monoterpenes, which are found in various preparations of these herbs. According to organizations (EMA, SCF) and clinical studies, α- and β-thujone have shown neurotoxic effects in humans over established limits. In this study wormwoodandsageinfusions were investigated in terms of the relative % content of the volatile constituents and the concentrations of α- and β-thujone by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In sage infusions, α-thujone was the predominant isomer while in wormwood β-thujone was dominated. Our results revealed that most of the above herbal infusions exceed thujone limits as set by EMA, which are 3 mg/day for wormwood and 5 mg/day for sage. Furthermore, the average toxicity as performed by the Microtox® Analyzer showed higher levels of toxicity in sage infusions compared to the wormwood. No correlation was found between thujone content and toxicity levels of both sage and wormwood infusions.