Fazilatun Nessa
Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, UAE
Title: Trace heavy metal contents of herbal products available in UAE pharmaceutical markets
Biography
Biography: Fazilatun Nessa
Abstract
About 80% of world population use herbal products in one time of their lifetime therefore, research become more oriented and focused on the evaluation of safety and quality control of commercially marketed herbal products. In advanced researches it has been documented that plants contain not only beneficial minerals, secondary metabolites but also contain non-essential minerals, toxic elements as they are contaminated with environmental pollutants specially heavy metals. Thirty one over the counter herbal products that are available within the UAE pharmaceutical markets were investigated for the presence of seven heavy metals; Cd, Pb, Fe, As, Ni, Al and Hg and to determine whether or not they pose a risk of heavy metal toxicity in regards to World Health Organization (WHO) levels. Sample solution was prepared by a dry ashing or wet digestion procedure. All metals were analyzed either by Graphite Furnace or Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Method validation was performed by evaluating metal recovery studies and within-day precision studies. The studied samples of herbal products exhibited positive response for all heavy metals except Hg. The results were compared with established WHO permissible limits as for Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake for Pb is 0.02 to 3μg/kg BW (body weight), for Fe is 0.8mg/kg BW and for Ni is 12μg/kg BW; Weekly Intake for Hg is 1μg/kg BW, for Al is 1mg/kg BW and for As is 15μg/kg BW; and Monthly Intake for Cd is 25μg/kg BW respectively. In conclusion, the herbal products available within UAE contained tolerable levels of toxic heavy metals except Al and Fe for some products.