The Hazardous Level of Heavy Metals in Different Medicinal Plants and Their Decoctions in Water: A Public Health Problem in Brazil

Abstract

and Pb by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was performed on dry matter and decoctions of the medicinal plants Cordia salicifolia, Chiococca alba (L.) Hitchc., and Echites peltata used as an appetite suppressant and diuretic in Brazil. e accuracy of the measurements was analyzed by the spike recovery test. Results showed that the concentration of these seven metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Na, and Zn) in dry plant samples is below the oral concentration of elemental impurities established by the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention (USP). However, there are no concentration limits for Fe, Na, and Zn established by the USP in drug substances and excipients. Levels higher than the recommended value by the USP were observed for Pb and the lowest for Cd, Co, Cr, and Cu, both in dried plant samples and their decoctions. In the decoctions prepared from these plants were found elements such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Na, Zn, and Pb. In the decoction prepared from 40 g C. salicifolia leaves and 40 g C. alba wood, the content of Cd is above the oral daily exposure value set by the USP. Hazard index (HI) for decoctions prepared from these plants exceeded the threshold (1). Given the uncertainties associated with the estimates of toxicity values and exposure factors, futures researches should address the possible toxicity in humans. Uncontrolled selling and long-term ingestion of medicinal plants can cause toxicity and interfere with the effect of drugs. Limited knowledge on the interaction potential of medicinal plants poses a challenge and public health problem in Brazil and other countries.

A Health Risk Assessment of Lead and Other Metals in Pharmaceutical Herbal Products and Dietary Supplements Containing Ginkgo biloba in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

“…In particular, pharmaceutical herbal products had the lowest levels of Mn, Cu, Pb, As, and Cd, indicating that they are less contaminated, followed by dietary supplements, while the highest content was found in traditional herbal remedies. These findings are in accordance with previous studies in other parts of the world-for example, the USA, India, China, and Brazil-which have reported the frequent contamination of herbal products with toxic metals such as Pb, As, Cu, and Cd [37][38][39][40][41]. Even in countries with strict sanitary control for these types of products-such as Singapore-contamination with As, Pb, and Cu has been found in 4% of the more than 3300 products analyzed [39].…”

Health Risk Assessment and Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Commonly Consumed Traditional Herbal Preparations in Northeast Ethiopia

“…is result revealed that the concentration of copper in all traditional herbal products was found below the WHO permissible limit (40 mg/kg) [25]. Similar results were reported in Brazil [24], Nigeria [9], and Ghana [27]. Copper is an essential element for the human metabolic system.…”

“…Exposure to more than one pollutant results in additive effects. It is the sum of the hazardous quotient (HQ) of all heavy metals as described in the following equation: [18,19,[22][23][24]. HI � Σ HQpb + HQCu + HQCr + HQCd.…”

Methodology to Quantify and Screen the Demineralization of Teeth by Immersing Them in Acidic Drinks (Orange Juice, Coca-Cola™, and Grape Juice): Evaluation by ICP OES

“…The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were calculated according to Long and Winefordner [ 46 ]. An addition/recovery test was carried out to evaluate the accuracy of the standard internal method with the addition of 1 ppm of each element [ 47 ].…”