Profiling of heavy metal and pesticide residues in medicinal plants

Abstract

Application of medicinal plant to cure ailments has been practiced by several civilizations. Nowadays, contamination of heavy metals and pesticide residues in medicinal plant is a serious concern, due to toxic effects on human health. The present study was designed with an aim to quantify the heavy metals and pesticide residues in the 20 medicinal herbs, frequently sold in the local market as raw material without any quality assurance. The concentrations of the elements are as follows: copper (2.42–19.14 μgg⁻¹), cadmium (0.01–2.10 μgg⁻¹), chromium (17.63–58.63 μgg⁻¹), iron (7.61–322.6 μgg⁻¹), and lead (13.00–54.47 μgg⁻¹), whereas total metal concentration ranged between 44.73 and 385.15 μgg⁻¹. Among the organic pesticides, HCH (1.63–6.44 μgg⁻¹) and DDT (0.63–7.14 μgg⁻¹) isomers were found to be present in medicinal plant material. Result showed that lead and chromium concentrations in the herbs were above the permissible limits set by WHO. These herbs should be regularly checked for quality assurance before using raw or as a herbal formulation to avoid chronic exposure of metal and pesticides to human being.