Bioaccessibility, exposure and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements and essential micronutrients in ayurvedic, traditional Chinese and Ghanaian medicines.

Potentially toxic constituents in traditional medicines remain a concern due to health risks posed to consumers. Thirty-six traditional medicines (TM) consisting of 14 Indian Ayurvedic Medicines, 11 Chinese Traditional Medicines and eleven Ghanaian Traditional Medicines were evaluated using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (T-XRF) after microwave assisted acid digestion. Physiologically Based Extraction Test (PBET) was used to obtain bioaccessible elemental concentrations. Merck XVI multi-element standard were used to evaluate the accuracy of the analytical method. The concentrations of the elements were quantified in (mg kg-1): Cr (0.01-698), Mn (0.01-1140), Fe (15-73300), Ni (1-1340), Cu (3-8160), Zn (0.01-224). The greatest bioaccessible concentrations of arsenic was 0.80 mg kg-1 and 0.44 mg kg-1 in the gastric and intestinal phases respectively. In order to evaluate the human health risks from ingesting these TM, the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was calculated for each medicine based on element-specific bioaccessibility-adjusted concentrations and results compared with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Reference Dose (RfD) limits. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) values for risks were within the USEPA RfD. Hazard quotients (HQ) of TM were < 1, meaning elemental concentrations do not pose non-carcinogenic risks to adult consumers. In summary the methods applied in the study gives a new insight on human health risks of potentially toxic and essential micronutrients elements in TM.

Assessment of essential and non-essential elements in selected traditional medicines from India, Ghana and China.

Traditional medicine (TM) also known as folk medicine consists of medical knowledge systems that were developed over generations in various countries before the era of modern medicine. Over the last few years, there has been a shift in universal trend from modern medicine to TM because it is believed that these medicines are non-toxic to humans, have little to no side-effects, are readily available and affordable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the essential and non-essential elemental concentrations of ayurvedic medicines (AM), Ghanaian traditional medicines (GTM) and Chinese traditional medicines (CTM). The results indicate that the mean elemental concentrations in TM varied greatly. The mean concentrations of copper and mercury in AM, GTM and CTM ranged from 4 to 45 mg/kg and 0.01 to 2 mg/kg, respectively. Multivariate statistical analyses applied to recognise inter-element associations indicated that at 0.05 significant level, there was a positive correlation between elements suggesting they may have originated from the same source. The study concludes by highlighting the need for monitoring of the elemental concentrations in commonly consumed traditional medicines regularly to detect contamination in these medicines since the occurrence of metals in these medicines above or below legally permissible limits can be harmful to consumers.

Metals and metalloids in traditional medicines (Ayurvedic medicines, nutraceuticals and traditional Chinese medicines).

Traditional medicine (TM) including Ayurvedic medicines, traditional Chinese medicines and nutraceuticals are popular across the globe as dietary supplements and traditional and alternative medicines. Health risks from these remedies continue to present serious concerns, with occurrences of poisoning by metals and metalloids present at concentrations above acceptable regulatory standards. This review overviews the prevalence of TM use, cases of metal and metalloid poisoning following TM consumption, and forms of TM contamination and adulteration. The review summarises regulations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other relevant bodies. Finally, the review recommends how to protect consumers.