Macro- and trace elements in plants from Mauritania and risk assessment

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Medicinal plants are crucial in traditional healthcare systems worldwide.
• Assessing the elemental composition and potential health risks of medicinal plants is vital for consumer safety.
• Mauritania possesses a rich diversity of medicinal flora, necessitating scientific evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify elemental levels in eight medicinal plant species from Mauritania.
• To evaluate the potential human health risks associated with the consumption of these plants.
• To determine the safety profile of commonly used traditional remedies.

Main Methods:

• Elemental analysis using appropriate techniques to determine concentrations of various elements (Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Co).
• Calculation of Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) for relevant elements.
• Assessment of human health risks using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) model.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in elemental content were observed across the studied plant species.
• Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, Manganese, and Copper were detected at varying concentrations.
• Chromium, Lead, Cadmium, and Cobalt were below detection limits in all samples.
• Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values were below 1 for most elements, except for Aluminum, indicating a low probability of non-cancer health effects.

Conclusions:

• The analyzed medicinal plants from Mauritania generally pose a low risk for non-cancer health issues.
• Aluminum content in some plants warrants further investigation regarding long-term consumer safety.
• This study provides essential data for the safe use of traditional Mauritanian medicinal plants.