Indian Medicinal Herb: A Source of Lead and Cadmium for Humans and Animals

ABSTRACT

The authors aimed to analyze 35 commonly used medicinal plants in India by exploring the possibilities of translocation of lead and cadmium into humans and animals. They collected plant materials from the same sources used by traditional healers and commercial drug manufacturers and estimated lead and cadmium levels in leaf stem bark, roots, and seeds, depending on the medicinal value of the plant portion. The authors determined lead and cadmium content of the digested samples using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Lead and cadmium concentrations were higher in aerial parts of the medicinal plants than in the roots. Lead concentration in 54.29% of medicinal plants and cadmium concentration in 77.14% of medicinal plants exceeded the maximum permissible level designated by the World Health Organization. The results indicate that prolonged consumption of such medicinal plants may be detrimental to one's health.

KEYWORDS:

• cadmium
• India
• lead
• medicinal herb

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr Motilal for the help in sample preparation and Mr. Brijesh Tyagi for his help in estimating heavy metals.