Metal concentration in commonly used medicinal herbs and infusion by lebanese population

Abstract

The levels of K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, As, Cd, Cr, and Pb in commonly used medicinal herbs and their infusions by the Lebanese were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and ASS techniques, respectively. The mean levels of the toxic metals in herbs were below WHO permissible levels. Cluster analysis indicated that metals are most probably in plants due to waste disposal and irrigation with contaminated wastes and/or from atmospheric waste particulates. The levels of Mn, Cr, Pb, and As in herbal infusions were found to be higher in soaked than boiled preparations and were correlated with Fe, while Zn, and Cu levels were higher in boiled infusions. The highest weekly intake of toxic metals Cr, As, Pb, and Cd from herbal infusions were below the recommended permissible tolerable weekly intake. Therefore, the consumption of these traditional medicinal herbs does not pose any health risk provided full compliance with recommended daily doses.