Definition: A group of ALKALOIDS, characterized by a nitrogen-containing necine, occurring mainly in plants of the BORAGINACEAE; COMPOSITAE; and LEGUMINOSAE plant families. They can be activated in the liver by hydrolysis of the ester and desaturation of the necine base to reactive electrophilic pyrrolic CYTOTOXINS.
Other names Alkaloids, Senecio; Alkaloids, Pyrrolizidine; Senecio Alkaloids
Biochem Pharmacol 1980;29(3):347; Biomed Mass Spectrom 6(1):38;1979; Cancer Res 1979;39(9):3564; J Chromatogr 166(2):519;1978; Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 24(3):559;1979