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Gruia AT, Oprean C, Ivan A, Cean A, Cristea M, Draghia L, Damiescu R, Pavlovic NM, Paunescu V, Tatu CA. Balkan endemic nephropathy and aristolochic acid I: an investigation into the role of soil and soil organic matter contamination, as a potential natural exposure pathway. Environ Geochem Health 2018; 40:1437-1448. [PMID: 29288399 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-017-0065-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Aristolochic acids (AAs) are carcinogenic and nephrotoxic plant alkaloids present in Aristolochia species, used in traditional medicine. Recent biomolecular and environmental studies have incriminated these toxins as an etiological agent in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a severe kidney disease occurring in the Balkan Peninsula. The questions on how the susceptible populations are exposed to these toxins have not yet been clearly answered. Exposure to AAs through the food chain, and environmental pollution (soil/dust), could provide an explanation for the presence of BEN in the countries where no folkloric use of the plant has been documented (Bulgaria, Croatia). Additional exposure pathways are likely to occur, and we have shown previously that AAs can contaminate crop plants through absorption from soil, under controlled laboratory environment. Here, we attempt to provide additional support to this potential exposure pathway, by revealing the presence of AAI in soil and soil organic matter samples collected from BEN and non-BEN areas. The samples were processed in order to be analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and ion trap mass spectrometry. Our results showed the presence of AAI in small concentrations, both in BEN and non-BEN soils, especially where Aristolochia plants and seeds were present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T Gruia
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Camelia Oprean
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania.
- Department of Environmental and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Sq. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania.
| | - Alexandra Ivan
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Biology and Environmental Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Sq. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ada Cean
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mirabela Cristea
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Lavinia Draghia
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Sq. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Damiescu
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Virgil Paunescu
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Sq. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Calin A Tatu
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital "Pius Branzeu", Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300736, Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Biology and Environmental Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Eftimie Murgu Sq. 2, 300041, Timisoara, Romania
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