Assessment of toxic metals in commonly used herbs and spices in Turkey

Abstract

Background and Aims: The levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were analyzed in frequently used herbs including ginger, liquorice, nutmeg and turmeric in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The levels of Cd and Pb in commonly used herbs were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after a closed microwave-assisted digestion. Results: The concentration ranges for the Cd and Pb were found to be 0.25-0.78 mg/kg and 3.04-6.45 mg/kg, respectively. While Pb levels were below the maximum permissible limits, high Cd levels were detected in herbs which would not pose any health risk for consumers regarding an exposure assessment. Conclusion: It is important to implement regular monitoring of heavy metal content in herbs, including medicinal plants, to assess their potential risks to human health in consideration of the potential for multiple exposure via other sources.

Keywords

• Cadmium
• lead
• ginger
• liquorice
• nutmeg
• turmeric

References

1. • Ahmed, M., Khaleeq, A., Huma, R., Munir, S. (2017). Atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopic method for determination of micronutrients and toxic metals in Curcuma longa L. to characterize human health toxicity. Spectroscopy Letters, 50(8), 432–439.
2. • Alhusban, A. A., Ata, S. A, Shraim, S. A. (2019). The safety assessment of toxic metals in commonly used pharmaceutical herbal products and traditional herbs for infants in Jordanian market. Biological Trace Element Research, 187(1), 307–315.
3. • Alolga, R. N., Chavez, M. A., Muyaba, M. (2018). Untargeted UPLCQ/ TOF‐MS‐based metabolomics and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopic analysis reveal differences in the quality of ginger from two provinces in Zambia. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 70(9), 1262–1271.
4. • Angelon-Gaetz, K. A., Klaus, C., Chaudhry E. A., Bean, D. K. (2018). Lead in Spices, Herbal Remedies, and Ceremonial Powders Sampled from Home Investigations for Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels-North Carolina, 2011-2018. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(46), 1290–1294.
5. • Arpadjan, S., Celik, G., Taskesen, S., Gucen, S. (2008). Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs and their fractionation. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46, 2871–2875.
6. • Başgel, S., Erdemoğlu, S. B. (2006). Determination of mineral and trace elements in some medicinal herbs and their infusions consumed in Turkey. Science of the Total Environment, 359(1–3), 82–89.
7. • Baye, H., Hymete, A. (2010). Lead and cadmium accumulation in medicinal plants collected from environmentally different sites. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 84(2), 197–201.
8. • Bilgic Alkaya, D., Karaderi, S,. Erdoğan, G., Kurt Cücü, A. (2015). İstanbul aktarlarında satılan bitkisel çaylarda ağir metal tayini. Marmara Pharmaceutical Journal, 19(2), 136–140.

9. • Bua, D. G., Annuario, G., Albergamo, A., Cicero, N., Dugo, G. (2016). Heavy metals in aromatic spices by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B, 9(3), 210–216.
10. • Divrikli, U., Horzum, N., Soylak, M, Elci, L. (2006). Trace heavy metal contents of some spices and herbal plants from western Anatolia, Turkey. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 41(6), 712–716.
11. • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2011). Statement on tolerable weekly intake for cadmium. EFSA Journal, 9(2),1975.
12. • Gasser, U., Klier Kuhn, A. V., Steinhoff, B. (2009). Current findings on the heavy metal content in herbal drugs. Pharmeur Scientitific Notes, 1, 37–49.
13. • Görür, F. K., Keser, R., Akçay, N., Dizman, S., Okumuşoğlu, N. T. (2011). Radionuclides and heavy metals concentrations in Turkish market tea. Food Control, 22(12), 2065–2070.
14. • Ha, M. T., Vu, N. K., Tran, T. H., Kim, J. A., Woo, M. H., & Min, B. S. (2020). Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Myristica fragrans Houtt.: an updated review. Archives of Pharmacal Research, 43(11), 1067–1092.
15. • Haider, S., Naithani, V., Barthwal, J. (2004). Heavy metal content in some therapeutically important medicinal plants. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 72(1), 119–127. • Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health. Foods, 6(10), 92.
16. • Idrees, M., Rafiq, S., Ullah, S., Jan, F. A., Khan, M. N., Mabood, F. (2018). Heavy Metals Level of Medicinal Plants Collected From Selected District In Khyber-Pakthtunkhwa, Pakistan. Farmacia , 66(5), 861–865.
17. • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (1993). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Cadmium and cadmium compounds. In, Beryllium, Cadmium, Mercury and Exposure in the Glass Manufacturing Industry. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 58, 119–237.
18. • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (2006). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Inorganic and Organic Lead Compounds. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 87.
19. • Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B. B., & Beeregowda, K. N. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdisciplinary toxicology, 7(2), 60–72. • Järup, L. (2003). Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin, 68(1), 167–182.
20. • Jeong, T. Y., Park, B. K., Cho, J. H., Kim, Y. I., Ahn, Y. C., Son, C. G. (2012). A prospective study on the safety of herbal medicines, used alone or with conventional medicines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 143, 884–888.
21. • Karahan, F., Avsar, C., Ozyigit, I. I., & Berber, I. (2016). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulifera from different habitats. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 30(4), 797-804.
22. • Karahan, F., Ozyigit, I. I., Saracoglu, I. A., Yalcin, I. E., Ozyigit, A. H., & Ilcim, A. (2020). Heavy metal levels and mineral nutrient status in different parts of various medicinal plants collected from eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Biological Trace Element Research, 197(1), 316–329.
23. • Kishan, P. S., Bhattacharya, S., Sharma, P. (2014). American-Eurasian assessment of heavy metal contents of some Indian medicinal plants. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 14(10), 1125–1129.
24. • Kumar, N., Kulsoom, M., Shukla, V., Kumar, D., Kumar, S., Tiwari, J., Dwivedi, N. (2018). Profiling of heavy metal and pesticide residues in medicinal plants. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(29), 29505–29510.
25. • Leblebici, S., Bahtiyar, S. D., Ozyurt, M. S. (2012). Kütahya aktarlarında satılan bazi tibbi bitkilerin ağır metal miktarlarının incelenmesi. Journal of Science and Technology of Dumlupınar University, 29, 1–6.
26. • Nagajyoti, P. C., Lee, K. D., & Sreekanth, T. V. M. (2010). Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants: a review. Environmental chemistry letters, 8(3), 199–216.
27. • Nordin, N., Selamat, J. (2013). Heavy metals in spices and herbs from wholesale markets in Malaysia. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B, 6(1), 36–41.
28. • Olujimi, O. O., Onifade, O. N., Towolawi, A. T., Akinhanmi, T. F., Afolabi, A. A., Olanite, K. A. (2017). Phyto-metals screening of selected anti-diabetic herbs and infused concoctions. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 7(10), 909-914. • Ozcan, M. (2004). Mineral contents of some plants used as condiments in Turkey. Food Chemistry, 84(3), 437–440.
29. • Ozcan, M. M., Akbulut, M. (2007). Estimation of Minerals, Nitrate and Nitrite Contents of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Used as Spices, Condiments and Herbal Tea. Food Chemisrty, 106(2), 852– 858.
30. • Özcan, M. M., Ünver, A., Uçar, T., Arslan, D. (2008). Mineral content of some herbs and herbal teas by infusion and decoction. Food Chemistry, 106(3), 1120–1127.
31. • Ozden, H., Ozden, S. (2018). Levels of Heavy Metals and Ochratoxin A in Medicinal Plants Commercialized in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15(3), 376–381.
32. • Ozkutlu, F., Sekeroglu, N., Kara, S. M. (2006). Monitoring of cadmium and micronutrients in spices commonly consumed in Turkey. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 2(5), 223–226.
33. • Ozturk, M., Altay, V., & Karahan, F. (2017). Studies on trace elements distributed in Glycyrrhiza taxa in Hatay-Turkey. International Journal of Plant and Environment, 3(02), 01–07.
34. • Ozyigit, I. I., Yalcin, B., Turan, S., Saracoglu, A., Karadeniz, S., Yalcin, I. E., Demir, G. (2018). Investigation of heavy metal level and mineral nutrient status in widely used medicinal plants’ leaves in Turkey: Insights into health implications. Biological Trace Element Research, 182(2), 387–406.
35. • Reinholds, I,. Pugajeva, I., Bavrins, K., Kuckovska, G., Bartkevics, V. (2017). Mycotoxins, pesticides and toxic metals in commercial spices and herbs. Food Additives and Contaminants, Part B, 10(1), 5–14.
36. • Sarma, H., Deka, S., Deka, H. (2011). Accumulation of heavy metals in selected medicinal plants. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 214, 63–86.
37. • Seddigi, Z. S., Kandhro, G. A., Shah, F., Danish, E., Soylak, M. (2016). Assessment of metal contents in spices and herbs from Saudi Arabia. Toxicology and Industrial Health, 32(2), 260–269.
38. • Sekeroglu, N., Ozkutlu, F., Kara, S. M., Ozguven, M. (2008). Determination of cadmium and selected micronutrients in commonly used and traded medicinal plants in Turkey. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 88, 86–90.
39. • Shahrajabian, M. H., Sun, W., Cheng, Q. (2019). Clinical aspects and health benefits of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern industry. Acta agriculturae scandinavica, section b—Soil & Plant Science, 69(6), 546–556.
40. • Sharma, V., Katiyar, A., Agrawal, R. C. (2018). Glycyrrhiza glabra: chemistry and pharmacological activity. Sweeteners, 87.
41. • Shim, J., Cho, T., Leem, D., Cho, Y., Lee, C. (2019). Heavy metals in spices commonly consumed in Republic of Korea. Food Additives and Contaminants, Part B, 12(1), 52–58.
42. • Siriangkhawut, W., Sittichan, P., Ponhong, K., Chantiratikul, P. (2017). Quality assessment of trace Cd and Pb contaminants in Thai herbal medicines using ultrasound-assisted digestion prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 25(4), 960–967.
43. • Tercan, H. S., Ayanoglu, F., Bahadirli, N. P. (2016). Determination of Heavy Metal Contents and Some Basic Aspects of Widely Used Herbal Teas in Turkey. Revista de Chimie, 67(5), 1019–1022.
44. • Tokalıoğlu, Ş. (2012). Determination of trace elements in commonly consumed medicinal herbs by ICP-MS and multivariate analysis. Food Chemistry, 134(4), 2504–2508.
45. • World Health Organization (WHO). (2003). GEMS/Food regional diets, regional per capita consumption of raw and semi-processed agricultural commodities / prepared by the Global Environment Monitoring System/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food), Rev. ed. World Health Organization, ISBN: 9241591080.
46. • World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine. World Health Organization Guidelines for Assessing Quality of Herbal Medicines with Reference to Contaminants and Residues Geneva Switzerland, ISBN: 9789241594448.
47. • World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). Safety evaluation of certain food additives and conta