Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Herbal Medicines Used to Treat Anxiety: Monitoring of Safety.

The present study estimated the human health risk assessment and daily intake of heavy metals and metalloids in herbal medicines used to treat anxiety in Brazil. Six different brands of herbal medicines were purchased in the city of Campo Grande/MS, Brazil: Pasalix®, Calman®, Serenus®, Maracugina®, Prakalmar® and Calmasyn®. In total, eight elements including As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb were analyzed using optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES). Only the concentration of As in the herbal medicine Prakalmar® is above the values established by United States Pharmacopoeia Convention (USP) and Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (BF) for permitted concentration of elemental impurities in drugs substances. The concentration of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu in all herbal medicines are lower than the values set by USP and FB. The concentration of Pb in Calman® is lower than the limits established by BF, but higher than those established by USP. Pasalix, Serenus®, Calmasyn®, Prakalmar® and Marcacugina® have a higher Pb concentration than the values allowed by USP and BF. All herbal medications have concentrations within safe ranges for human consumption, with the exception of Calmasyn®, which has Pb over the value defined by USP for oral permissible daily exposure (PDE) for elemental impurities. The values of estimated daily intake (EDI) of metal (loid)s in adults and children obtained from the consumption of the herbal medicines are below the values stipulated by the minimal risk levels (MRLs). All the hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were below 1. However, monitoring by regulatory agency is necessary, large doses of heavy metal may cause acute or chronic toxicities.

Potential Health Risks of Macro- and Microelements in Commercial Medicinal Plants Used to Treatment of Diabetes.

Information on the content of medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes is scarce in the literature. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of macroelements and microelements in three different medicinal plant species including the dry samples and teas from Bauhinia forficata, Eleusine Indica, and Orthosiphon stamineus and assess the human health risks of ingestion of the tea. The content of the dry samples and teas was obtained using the technique of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave digestion procedure. The hazard quotient (HQ) method was used to access the human health risks posed by heavy metal through tea consumption. The results revealed the presence of K, Mg, Na, P, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Se in dry samples and plant teas. The dry plants have high concentration of K and P. All dry plants contain Mg, Na, Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu above the limit permissible level set by the World Health Organization (WHO). All the hazard index (HI) values in plant teas were found to be within safe limits for human consumption (HI < 1). The plants may have possible action benefits when used in popular medicine. However, the ingestion through capsules prepared by enclosing a plant powder or teas can be harmful to the health of diabetics. The prescription of this plant for the treatment of diabetes should be treated with caution.

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

The determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Na, Zn, 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. The 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.