Honey from Echium plantagineum tested for alkaloids, polyphenols and cell effects
What it found
No pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found in three honey samples, and extracts lowered a marker of inflammation by up to 40% in mouse cells.
Several polyphenols were detected.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Inflammation in mouse cells
Honey extracts lowered nitric oxide levels by up to 40% in stimulated mouse immune cells. This happened at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL.
Other findings
Alkaloids not found
The researchers did not detect any pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the three honey samples they analysed.
Polyphenols detected
Several polyphenol compounds were identified in the honeys using chemical testing methods.
What the authors conclude
- They highlight the health benefits of these honey samples based on the absence of alkaloids and the presence of polyphenols.
- Their tests showed that the honeys could reduce an inflammation marker in mouse cells.
How it was done
Honey is used in traditional medicine worldwide for its health properties, but plants like Echium plantagineum can also put potentially harmful alkaloid molecules into it. The authors wanted to check the quality of honeys made from this plant.
They tested one single-flower and two mixed-flower honeys made from Echium plantagineum using chemical separation methods. They looked for alkaloids and polyphenols. They also tested the honeys on lab-grown mouse immune cells to measure cell damage and inflammation responses.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These results come from mouse cells grown in a lab. They cannot show what happens when people eat this honey.
- Testing only three honey samples means scientists do not yet know if all Echium plantagineum honeys lack these alkaloids.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
The paper
- Title
- Echium plantagineum L. honey: Search of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and polyphenols, anti-inflammatory potential and cytotoxicity
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Moreira R, Fernandes F, Valentão P, Pereira DM, Andrade PB (2020). Echium plantagineum L. honey: Search of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and polyphenols, anti-inflammatory potential and cytotoxicity. Food chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127169PubMed 32485580DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error