Purity control of some Chinese crude herbal drugs marketed in Italy

The widespread use of herbal drugs, among which those coming from eastern Countries, has created a more compelling need for quality, a pre-requisite that can influence safety. In the present study, 10 Chinese crude herbal drugs marketed in Italy (Radix Ginseng, Radix Astragali, Rhizoma Coptidis, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Polygalae, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) were analysed by the following purity assays: foreign matter, total ash, microbial and heavy metal contamination. Each herbal drug was purchased in Italy from three different sources: two Chinese firms and one Chinese herbal shop. Except for the heavy metal content, the tests were performed according to the European Pharmacopoeia. The presence of parasites was shown in two samples; moreover, level of ash (in three samples), lead content (in one sample) and total viable aerobic count (in one sample), were higher than the limits set by the European or Italian Pharmacopoeias. Our results, even if obtained from a small number of herbal drugs, show some purity issues and underline the importance of the quality control, particularly for this kind of products whose therapeutic value is not always demonstrated.