An Insight into Pathway and Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Metals in Herbal Medicine

Abstract

Introduction. Along with and in competition with orthodox medicines, herbal medicines have converted into a popular form of cure. While cumulative investigation reports on adverse effects by herbal drug uptake are few, systematic review along with deep insight into other relevant topics (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risk assessment, mechanism of toxicity, and entering toxic metal from source to herbal drug) is sporadic. Methods. Therefore, existing research and their published outputs pointing safety assessment of herbal medicines in terms of toxic metals have been reviewed systematically and information synthesized thematically while suggesting mechanism of toxicity, consequence of prolong exposure, and pathway of toxic metal from source to herbal drugs. Result and Discussion. Our study suggests that most of the herbal medicines were unsafe to consume although claimed harmless. Possible pathways regarding migration of toxic metals into herbal medicine are discussed. Conclusion. There should have appropriate screening from herb collection, and manufacturing to selling of finished herbal medicine by authority concerned is backed.

Human Health Risk Assessment to the Consumption of Medicinal Plants with Melliferous Potential from the Romanian South-Eastern Region

“…The concentrations of macroelements, microelements, and trace metals in the analyzed MPHs and the plant infusion samples were comparable to previous results for the same or similar medicinal plants [ 19 , 46 , 51 , 77 ] or tea samples [ 34 , 36 , 38 , 48 ] and other herbal-derivative products [ 28 , 33 , 35 , 52 ]. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn in the analyzed infusions of SnL , Hp , and Tt plants were comparable to previous results for tea samples [ 34 , 48 ] and other tea products consumed in different continents (i.e., Africa, Europe, and Asia) [ 52 , 89 , 90 ].…”

“…The maximum values obtained for the transfer rate of mineral content in infusion tea varied between 5 and 90%, as follows: K (50-70%), Ca (14-46%), Mg (16-40%), Na (26-65%), Fe (8-35%), Mn (6-90%), Cu (18-80%), Zn (25-80%), and Cd (5-35%). The concentrations of macroelements, microelements, and trace metals in the analyzed MPHs and the plant infusion samples were comparable to previous results for the same or similar medicinal plants [19,46,51,77] or tea samples [34,36,38,48] and other herbal-derivative products [28,33,35,52]. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn in the analyzed infusions of SnL, Hp, and Tt plants were comparable to previous results for tea samples [34,48] and other tea products consumed in different continents (i.e., Africa, Europe, and Asia) [52,89,90].…”

“…Another possibility to evaluate the health risk due to food consumption is based on the following indices [42,50,51,66]: the estimated daily intake (EDI) or exposure assessment, non-carcinogenic risk assessment (the Hazard Quotient Index (HQ), and the Hazard Index (HI)), and carcinogenic risk for the chemical substances (Risk ccs ). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) replaced TdI with the Reference Dose (RfD).…”

“…Still, very few studies evaluated the health risks of consuming medicinal plants with melliferous potential [ 6 , 9 , 29 , 33 , 45 ]. In such investigations, specific indicators were computed [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ] and compared with some critical levels to indicate the level of danger. The results have shown that medicinal plants must be carefully used, considering their possible adverse effects on the human organism [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ].…”

Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Metals Consumed Through Plant-Based Anti-Diabetic Therapeutics Collected in the Northern Divisional City of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

“…The following samples were thought to pose serious health hazards for Mn for their hazard quotient value greater than [35], thereby generating a threat to multi-organ damage to patients [21].…”