Determination of metals in medicinal plants highly consumed in Brazil

Authors

  • Alexandre Soares Leal Center for Development of Nuclear Technology
  • Guilherme Prado Ezequiel Dias Foundation
  • Tatiana Cristina Bomfim Gomes Center for Development of Nuclear Technology
  • Fernanda Peixoto Sepe Center for Development of Nuclear Technology
  • Ilza Dalmázio Center for Development of Nuclear Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502013000300022

Keywords:

Neutron activation analysis, Medicinal plants, Metals^i1^sdetermination in medicinal pla, Chemical contaminants, Plant products^i1^squality cont

Abstract

In this work, samples of the medicinal plants: Boldo (Peumus boldus), Castanha da Índia (Aesculus hippocastanum), Chá Verde (Camelia sinensis), Erva Cidreira (Melissa officinalis), Espinheira Santa (Maytenus ilicifolia), Guaraná (Paullinia cupana), Maracujá (Passiflora sp.), Mulungu (Erythrina velutina), Sene (Cassia angustifolia) and Valeriana (Valeriana officinalis) were evaluated BY using the Neutron Activation Analysis technique (NAA- k0) in order to determine the levels of metals and other chemical contaminants. The results showed the presence of non essential elements to the human body. The diversity of chemical impurities found even at low concentration levels, considering the potential for chronic toxicity of these elements, reinforces the need to improve the implementation of good practices by growers and traders, and the hypothesis of lack of quality control in plant products.

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Published

2013-09-01

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Articles

License

All content of the journal, except where identified, is licensed under a Creative Commons attribution-type BY.

The on-line journal has open and free access.

How to Cite

Determination of metals in medicinal plants highly consumed in Brazil . (2013). Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 49(3), 599-607. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502013000300022