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Heavy metals in Egyptian spices and medicinal plants and the effect of processing on their levels.

A A Abou-Arab1, M A Abou Donia

  • 1Food and Dairy Technology Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|July 11, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Egyptian spices and medicinal plants show heavy metal contamination, exceeding safety limits. Processing methods like boiling significantly impact metal extraction from these plants.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Food Safety
  • Pharmacognosy

Background:

  • Spices and medicinal plants are vital commodities globally.
  • Contamination of these plant materials with heavy metals poses significant health risks.
  • Understanding heavy metal levels in Egyptian exports is crucial for public health and trade.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify heavy metal contamination in Egyptian spices and medicinal plants.
  • To assess heavy metal levels against international safety standards.
  • To investigate the effect of processing on metal content in medicinal plants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 303 samples from 20 different spice and medicinal plant types.
  • Atomic absorption spectroscopy or similar techniques for heavy metal quantification (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Sn, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co).
  • Evaluation of metal extraction efficiency using boiling versus hot water immersion methods.

Main Results:

  • Heavy metal concentrations varied significantly based on plant species.
  • Maximum detected levels (microg/g): Pb (14.4), Cd (2.44), Cr (33.75), Ni (2.85), Sn (0.10), Zn (68.80), Mn (343.0), Cu (11.40), Fe (1046.25).
  • Detected heavy metal levels in numerous samples exceeded established maximum allowable limits.
  • Cobalt was not detected in any samples.
  • Boiling plants in water extracted higher metal amounts compared to hot water immersion.

Conclusions:

  • Egyptian spices and medicinal plants are contaminated with various heavy metals.
  • Contamination levels in many samples surpass safety thresholds, indicating a potential health hazard.
  • Processing methods significantly influence the removal of heavy metals from medicinal plants.