Exploring Potential Health Risk of Chenxiang Huaqi Tablets Based on Inorganic Elemental Evaluation Using ICP-MS

Chenxiang Huaqi Tablet (CXHQT) is a Chinese patent medicine preparation composed of 10 traditional Chinese herbs. In this study, the concentrations of 23 inorganic elements in CXHQT were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The fingerprint of the elements was established, the chemometrics and element correlation analysis were carried out, and the health risk assessment of heavy metals and harmful elements was performed. The results revealed that there were certain differences in the content of inorganic elements in 15 batches of CXHQT manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company. Pb, U, Al, Ga, Cd, As, Co, Ni, and Fe were identified as characteristic elements contributing to quality differences by chemometric analysis. In addition, the results of health risk assessment, such as total hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR), indicated that the content of Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Cd, and Pb in CXHQT was within the normal range and would not endanger human health. This study provided a scientific and comprehensive reference for evaluation of inorganic elements and safety in CXHQT.