• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.300-307
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• 2001

This study was conducted to determine the content of inorganic metals in botanical pills and assess the safety of mineral balance in body. Inorganic metals (Fe, Ca, Zn, Na, Mg, K, Pb, Cd, Cr) were detected in 11 kinds, 51 samples by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The average concentration of inorganic metals in botanical pills was in the order of K(7933.32 mg/kg)>Na(5848.58mg/kg)>Ca(2741.60mg/kg)>Mg(1595.34mg/kg)>Fe(353.14mg/kg)>Zn(22.49mg/kg)>Cr(3.51mg/kg)>Pb(0.24mg/kg)>Cd(0.09mg/kg). In samples, Morus and Laminaria contained a great quantity of K and Na, Acanthopanacis cortex, Eucommia ulmoides, Pinus densiflora, Lycii fructus, Allium sativum for. pekinense, and Platycode radix had much more amount of K than that of Na, in the mean time, Artemisia capillaris, Carthamus tinctorius seed, and Rubi fructus had various kinds of plenty inorganic metals.