Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2015.41.1.30

Monitoring of Heavy Metal Contents in Commercial Herbal Medicines in Korea: Cultivated Herbal Medicines in the Seoul and Daegu Areas  

Jang, Seol (Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
Lee, Ah-Reum (K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
Lee, A-Eong (K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
Choi, Go-Ya (K-herb Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
Kim, Ho-Kyoung (Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.41, no.1, 2015 , pp. 30-39 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the heavy metal contents in commercial herbal medicines in Korea. Methods: Monitoring of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury was carried out on 116 samples of eleven types of herbal medicines. Among the total samples, 71 samples were domestic and 45 were imported. The samples were digested using the microwave method. The heavy metal contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and a mercury analyzer. ICP-AES was used to analyze lead, arsenic cadmium. Mercury was analyzed by the amalgamation method. Results: The mean values of the heavy metal contents in the herbal medicines were Pb 0.64mg/kg, As 0.26mg/kg, Cd 0.07mg/kg and Hg 0.004mg/kg. Of the total samples, one violated the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) regulatory guidance on heavy metals in herbal medicines. Lead was detected at more than 5mg/kg in one sample. The measured values of arsenic, cadmium and mercury in the herbal medicines showed levels lower than the recommended levels for herbal medicines in MFDS regulatory guidance. In the comparison of domestic samples with imported herbal medicines, it was found that one domestic sample surpassed the maximum residue limits for lead. Conclusion: These results will be used to establish the regulation and control of heavy metal contents in herbal medicines. In addition, continuous monitoring is needed to ensure confidence in and the safety of these herbal medicines.
Keywords
Heavy metal; Herbal medicines; ICP; Monitoring;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 13  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Kim SD, Jung SO, Kim BS, Yun ES, Chang MS, Park YA, et al. The content of heavy metals in herbal pills used as general processed food and risk assessment of heavy metal intakes. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2010; 39(7): 1038-1048.   DOI
2 Lee SD, Lee YK, Kim MS, Park SK, Kim YS, Chae YZ. The content and risk assessment of heavy metals in herbal pills. J Fd Hyg Safety. 2012; 27(4): 375-387.   DOI
3 Lee MK, Park JS, Lim HC, Na HS. Determination of heavy metal contents in medicinal herb. Korean J Food Preserv. 2008; 15(2): 253-260.
4 Baek SY, Chung JY, Lee JH, Park KS, Kang IH, Kang SJ, et al. Monitoring of some heavy metals in oriental animality medicines. Analytical Science & Technology. 2009; 22(3): 201-209.
5 Hwang BH, Jun IC, Kang HC, Seo YC. Quality control for the analysis of heavy metals in herbal medicine. J Kor Soc Environ Anal. 2012; 15(4): 275-281.
6 Jung SJ, Kang ST, Han CH, Kim SJ, Ko SK, Kim YH, et al. Survey of heavy metal contents and intake rates after decoction in herbal medicines classified by parts. J Fd Hyg Safety. 2010; 25(4): 402-409.
7 Park MK, Kim SY, Hwang HU. A study on the heavy metal contents in herbal medicines -Cultivated herbal medicines at North Gyeongbuk area-. J Environ Sci. 2004; 13(12): 1117-1122.
8 Tan KH, King LD, Morris HD. Complex reactions of zinc with organic matter extracted from sewage sludge. Soil Sci Soc Am Pro. 1971; 35(5): 748-752.   DOI
9 Pstruzzelli G, Guid G, Lubrano L. Organic matter as an influencing factor on copper and cadmium adsorption by soils. Water Air Soil Pollut. 1978; 9(3): 263-269.   DOI
10 Rhee SJ, Kim SO, Choe WK, Cho SH. Effect of cadmium dose injection on peroxidative damage in rat liver. J Korean Soc Food Nutr. 1992; 21(6): 601-607.
11 Jung SY, Rhee SJ, Yang JA. Effect of dietary vitamin E levels in lipid peroxidation and enzyme activities of anti-oxidative system in brain of cadmium administered rats. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 1996; 25(4): 575-580.
12 Rabinowitz MB, Wetherill GW, Kopple JD. Lead metabolism in the normal human : stable isotope studies. Science. 1973; 182(4113): 725-727.   DOI
13 Choi SI, Lee JH, Lee SR. Effect of green tea beverage of the removal of cadmium and lead by animal experiments. Korean J Food Sci Technol. 1994; 26: 745-749.
14 Nordberg M. General aspects of cadmium : transport uptake and metabolism by the kidney. Environ Health persp. 1984; 54: 13-20.   DOI
15 Lee SD, Lee JS, Hwang KH, Kim HS, Yoo IS, Han KY, et al. A survey on heavy metal contents and transfer rate in animal medicines. J Pharm Soc Korea. 2013; 57(1): 8-17.
16 Kim JY, Yoo JH, Lee JH, Kim MJ, Kang DW, Ko HS, et al. Monitoring and risk assessment of heavy metals in edible mushrooms. Korean J Environ Agric. 2012; 31(1): 37-44.   DOI   ScienceOn
17 Go MJ, Lee JH, Park EH, Park SW, Kim IK, Ji YA. Monitoring of heavy metals in vegetables in Korea. J Fd Hyg Safety. 2012; 27(4): 456-460.   DOI
18 Yu IS, Hong YJ. Analysis of heavy metals in medicinal plants. Report of SIHE. 2006; 42: 62-71.
19 Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. MFDS Notification No. 2011-42. Seoul: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2011. p.3-5.
20 Kim DK, Kim BS, Han EJ, Han CH, Kim OH, Choi BH, et al. Distribution of hazardous heavy metals in commercial herbal medicines classified by plant parts used in Seoul. Analytical Science & Technology. 2009; 22(6): 504-513.
21 Kang MR, Lee IH, Jun H, Kim YS, Lee SC. Elemental analysis in Astragali Radix by using ICP-AES and determination of the original agricultural place of oriental medicine by using a chemometrics. Analytical Science & Technology. 2001; 14(4): 316-321.
22 Lee JT. Research on intake of chinese medicine by Korea. Seoul: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2006. p.16-22.
23 Kim SJ. A study on the consumption pattern and pricing structure of major oriental medicine in Korea. Seoul: Ministry of Health & Welfare Press; 2001. p.77-88.
24 Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In: The Korean Pharmacopoeia Tenth Edition. MFDS Notification No. 2012-129. Seoul: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Press; 2012. p.101.
25 Im R, Youm HC, Kim DW, Bae HS, Ahn SJ, Ryu DY, et al. Dietary exposure assessment of arsenic in Korean adults. Environ Health Tox. 2010; 25(4): 307-314.
26 Park HM, Choi KH, Jung JY, Lee SD. Metal exposure through consumption of herbal medicine and estimation of health risk among Korean population. Korea J Env Hlth. 2006; 32(2): 186-191
27 Bono R, Pignata E, Scursatone R, Rovere P, Natale, Gilli G. Updating about reductions of air and blood lead concentrations in Turin, Italy, following reductions in the lead content of gasoline. Environ Res. 1995; 70(1): 30-34.   DOI
28 Shin YH, Son JS, Kim YW, Chae CH, Kim JH, Kim CW, et al. A case of lead poisoning by ingesting herbal pills tainted by lead during the manufacturing process. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2010; 22(3): 271-277.
29 Yoo IY. The blood levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium and metabolic syndrome of Korean adults. J. Korean Soc. Living Environ. Sys. 2014; 21(2): 251-259.   DOI
30 Suzy LW, Ellen JD. Lead, mercury and cadmium levels in Canadians. Health Reports. 2008; 19(4): 30-36.
31 Lee HH, Seo JM, Oh MS, Gang IS, Park JJ, Seo KW, et al. A survey on harmful materials of commercial medical herb in Gwangju area. J Fd Hyg Safety. 2010; 25(2): 83-90.
32 Yim OK, Han EJ, Chung JY, Park KS, Kang IH, Kang SJ, et al. The monitoring of some heavy metals in oriental herbal medicines and their intake rates. Analytical Science & Technology. 2009; 22(2): 128-135.
33 Cha YY, Heo SK, Kim DG, Baik TH, Seo HS, Park HS, et al. Determination of heavy metals and residual pepsticides in oriental medical materials. Korean J Oriental Physiology & Pathology. 2007; 21(1): 226-230.