ABSTRACT
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/etiology , Garcinia cambogia/toxicity , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plant Preparations/chemistry , Plant Preparations/toxicity , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Garcinia (Clusiaceae) species are traditionally used as flavoring agents in curries and to cure several human health complications. This study investigated 31 macro, micro, and trace elements in microwave-assisted digested samples of Garcinia cambogia fruit and its anti-obesity commercial products by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) techniques. The methods were also validated using the coefficient of determination (R2 ), limits of detection and quantification (LOD, LOQ), precision (CV%), analysis of certified reference materials, spiking recovery experiments, and participation in an accredited laboratory proficiency test organized by Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS). RESULTS: Quality assurance confirmed that the methods were efficient and in accordance with criteria set by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). In the elemental analysis, the analyzed macro, micro, and trace essential elements were present in appreciable concentrations, which could meet the human nutritional requirements. Traces of toxic elements were within safe limits. CONCLUSION: From the results of the current study, the fruit and its commercial products could be considered potential sources of mineral elements without posing any threats to consumers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Subject(s)
Anti-Obesity Agents/chemistry , Garcinia cambogia/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Trace Elements/chemistry , Anti-Obesity Agents/economics , Anti-Obesity Agents/toxicity , Fruit/chemistry , Garcinia cambogia/toxicity , Limit of Detection , Mass Spectrometry , Plant Extracts/economics , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Trace Elements/economicsABSTRACT
Traditional herbal products are widely used in Australia to treat a broad range of conditions and diseases. It is popularly believed that these products are safer than prescribed drugs. While many may be safe, it is worrying that the specific effects and harmful interactions of a number of their components with prescription medications is not well understood. Some traditional herbal preparations contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as naturally occurring organic toxins. The effects of these substances can be dire, including acute hepatic and renal failure, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions and diseases, and even death. The content and quality of herbal preparations are not tightly controlled, with some ingredients either not listed or their concentrations recorded inaccurately on websites or labels. Herbal products may also include illegal ingredients, such as ephedra, Asarum europaeum (European wild ginger) and endangered animal species (eg, snow leopard). An additional problem is augmentation with prescription medications to enhance the apparent effectiveness of a preparation. Toxic substances may also be deliberately or inadvertently added: less expensive, more harmful plants may be substituted for more expensive ingredients, and processing may not be adequate. The lack of regulation and monitoring of traditional herbal preparations in Australia and other Western countries means that their contribution to illness and death is unknown. We need to raise awareness of these problems with health care practitioners and with the general public.
