Heavy metal levels in commonly used traditional medicinal plants

In the present study a survey of 24 commonly used medicinal plants of Indian subcontinent origin was carried out to evaluate their levels of heavy metals by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the highest mean value for Cd (12.06 μg.^-1), Cr (24.50 μg.g^-1), Cu (15.27 μg.g^-1), Pb (1.30 μg.g ^-1), Fe (885.60 μg.g^-1), Mn (90.60 μg.g- ¹), Ni (9.99 μg.g^-1) and Zn (77.15 μg.g ^-1) were found in Lawsonia inermis, Murraya koenigii, Mentha spicata, Beta vulgaris Linn, Mentha spicata, Lagenaria sicerana standl, Lawsonia inermis, Emblica officinalis, respectively. The mean and maximum levels of Cd in plant samples were found higher than the recommended values of the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization and may constitute a health hazard for consumers. All other heavy metals in medicinal plants were found below the recommended tolerable limits.