Journal
FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS
Volume 19, Issue 8, Pages 748-754Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/02652030210145892
Keywords
beta-carboline; norharman; harman; alkaloids; tryptophan; heterocyclic amines; coffee; brewed coffee
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Norharman and harman, two heterocyclic beta-carboline alkaloids with biological activity, were found in brewed coffee. Identification and analysis were carried out by HPLC-MS and RP-HPLC-fluorescence, respectively. All tested samples of brewed coffee including ground coffee, decaffeinated coffee, instant coffee and espresso contained both norharman and harman in variable amounts. Norharman was the major beta-carboline alkaloid in brewed coffee at levels up to 9.34 mug g(-1) in instant ground coffee compared with harman, which had levels up to 1.67 mug g(-1). The two beta-carbolines appeared to be formed during roasting of the coffee beans. It is concluded that drinking coffee is a major exogenous dietary source of these bioactive beta-carboline alkaloids previously reported as mild psychoactive compounds in animal studies and in vitro co-mutagens. These results support our previous conclusion that foods containing beta-carbolines are an important exogenous source of these alkaloids in humans.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available