Levels of Heavy Metals and Ochratoxin A in Medicinal Plants Commercialized in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of Pb, Cd, and OTA in frequently used medicinal plants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one samples of linden, chamomile, and sage were obtained during the spring and summer period of 2016 from local markets and traditional bazaars in İstanbul, Turkey. Microwave-assisted digestion was applied for the preparation of the samples and the ICP-OES was used for the determination of Pb and Cd. Determination of OTA was performed using HPLC-FLD after immunoaffinity column clean-up.
RESULTS: OTA was detected in only one chamomile sample with a low concentration level of 0.034 µg/kg. According to the results of ICP-OES analysis, Pb in the concentration range of 4.125-6.487 mg/kg, 3.123-5.769 mg/kg and 3.229-5.985 mg/kg and Cd in the concentration range of 0.324-0.524 mg/kg, 0.365-0.51 mg/kg and 0.321-0.474 mg/kg was found in linden, chamomile, and sage teas, respectively.
CONCLUSION: We indicated that levels of Pb and OTA were found below the maximum permissible level whereas high levels of Cd were observed in medicinal plants, which may not pose a health risk for consumers according to the exposure assessment. However, it is suggested that other mycotoxins and heavy metal contents should be carefully considered in medicinal plants. ©Copyright 2018 Turk J Pharm Sci, Published by Galenos Publishing House.