Advances in the identification and analysis of the bioactive ß-carboline alkaloids in food and biological samples

Abstract

Tetrahydro-ß-carbolines (THßCs) and ß-carbolines (ßCs) are naturally occurring alkaloids that exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological activities. Advances in the identification and analysis of those alkaloids by solid phase extraction, GC-MS and HPLC-MS have allowed to prove their actual occurrence in foods and also in biological samples. Those alkaloids are condensation products of indoleamines and aldehydes or α-ketoacids. Although endogenous formation might occur in vivo, recent studies point out to the diet as an important exogenous source of those alkaloids in humans.