Toxic Elements in Different Medicinal Plants and the Impact on Human Health

Abstract

Local medicinal plants from Madina, Saudi Arabia, are used to cure various diseases. However, some can cause adverse health effects. Five different medicinal plants were collected in the city of Madina: mahareeb (Cymbopogon), sheeh (Artemisia), harjal (Cynanchum argel delile), nabipoot (Equisetum), and kafmariam (Vitex agnus-castus). In total, four toxic elements including Al, Pb, As, and Cd were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The range of recoveries fell between 86.1 and 90.6% for all measured elements. Al levels were the highest of any of the studied elements in all plant samples, with Cymbopogon showing the highest levels. The range of concentrations of Al was 156–1609 mg/kg. Cd appeared at the lowest levels in all plants samples, with Vitex agnus-castus containing this element at the highest levels. Cd concentrations were in the range of 0.01–0.10 mg/kg. A washing process lowered the toxic elements in all plants; average % recoveries were Al (47.32%), As (59.1%), Cd (62.03%), and Pb (32.40%). The calculated human health risk assessment in one dose for toxic elements in all plants was as follows: Al (1.33 × 10−3–5.57 × 10−2 mg/kg.bw), Pb (0–8.86 × 10−5 mg/kg.bw), As (3.43 × 10−7–1.33 × 10−5 mg/kg.bw), and Cd (0–3.14 × 10−6 mg/kg.bw). Medicinal plants are a source of exposure to toxic elements. However, none of the plants in this study exceeded the daily guideline set by the WHO for any element based on conventional use by the local population. We may cautiously conclude that these medicinal plants pose no risk to users based on conventional use.

Elemental Characterization of Medicinal Plants and Soils from Hazarganji Chiltan National Park and Nearby Unprotected Areas of Balochistan, Pakistan

“…In medicinal plant samples collected from unprotected sites, Al were found in higher levels 6,610 mg/kg in Nepeta praetervisa and low levels in 760 mg/kg in Sophora mollis Table 5 . Relatively lower concentrations of Al in medicinal plants were also reported 61 . For soils, the samples collected from protected sites, showed somewhat lower amounts of Al 28,470 mg/kg when compared to samples collected from unprotected sites 29,930 mg/kg Table 3 .…”

“…71 in samples from protected sites then in samples from unprotected 2. 61 ones Table 3 . These results provide an insight to understand mitigating role of protected area against climate change.…”

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

“…at is, the hazard index assumes that the magnitude of the adverse effect will be proportional to the sum of several element exposures. In many studies, risk is assessed by assuming the sum of all elements quantified from a specific sample, in which chemical(s) concentration(s) have been measured by equipment such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) [30,31] or inductively coupled plasmaoptical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) [32].…”

Toxicity Profile of Karuho Poison on the Brain of Wistar Albino Rats

“…Some of the reported medicinal plants with neurotoxic effects that have been reported include Alocasia macrorrhiza, A. odora [13], Albizia myriophylla Benth [14] and many others. Also medicinal plants are commonly used in Karuho poison preparation and some of these plants including Cymbopogon species, Artemisia species, Cynanchum argel delile, Equisetum, and Vitex agnus-castus and many others have been reported to accumulate toxic heavy metals and non-metals such as phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and manganese (Mn) [15]. Some of these metals have been reported to cause neurotoxicity in the brain such as Al, Pb, As, and Cd leading to brain damage [15] and excessive Ca 2+ causes excitotoxicity leading to brain damage as well.…”