Investigation of Heavy Metal Contents in Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Sold in Bingöl Herbalists

Objective: In our country, which is rich in medicinal plant diversity, there is an increase in heavy metal accumulation with the increase of industrial development and environmental pollution. The aim is to evaluate the health safety of heavy metal content of thyme and ginger plants, which are frequently used for therapeutic purposes, sold in herbalists. Methods: In this study, heavy metal (Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) levels in thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) plant samples obtained from three different herbalists in Bingöl were determined by ICP-MS. Results: Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb levels in both thyme and ginger samples, Cr levels in thyme samples and Cu levels in ginger samples were above the safe limit values for health. In the thyme and ginger samples, Co, Ni, Cr levels in ginger samples and As levels in thyme samples were found to be in the safe range for health Conclusion: As a result; it is noteworthy that some heavy metals in medicinal plants used for therapeutic purposes in this study are above the recommended critical levels. Considering the possibility of exposure to heavy metals while consuming medicinal plants, regular monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in plants is important in order to minimize the risks that may adversely affect human health

Keywords:

Thyme, Ginger Heavy metal, ICP-MS,

PDF

___

1. Polat R, Satıl F,Çakılcıoğlu U. Medicinal plants and their use properties of sold in herbal market in Bingöl Turkey district. Biyolojik Çeşitlilik ve Koruma, 2011; 4 (3): 25-35.
2. Craker LE, Gardner Z. Sustaining the harvest: Challenges in MAP production and markets. Acta Horticulturae, 2005; 676: 25–30.
3. Baser KHC. Use of drugs and alcohol industriesof medicinal and aromatic plants. Istanbul Chamberof Commerce, Publication No: 1997-39, Istanbul.
4. Esetlili BÇ, Pekcan T, Çobanoğlu Ö, Aydoğdu R, Turan S, Anaç D. Essential plant nutrients and heavy metals concentrations of some medicinal and aromatic plants. J. Agric. Sci., 2014; 20(3): 239-247.
5. Kılınc M, Kutbay G. Plant Ecology. PlamePublishing, 2004; Ankara.
6. Özer Z, Tursun N,Önen H. Yabancı Otlarla Sağlıklı Yaşam (Gıda ve Tedavi). 4Renk Yayınları, 2. Baskı, Ankara, 2001; 293.
7. Şeker M. Bitkilerdeki Şifa. Ekin Yayınevi, 1. Baskı, Bursa, 2011; 440.
8. Davis PH, Flora of Turkey and East Aegean Islands. 1965-1985. Edinburgh University Press, Vol. 1-9. Edinburgh.
9. Nordin N, Selamat J. Heavy metals in spices and herbs fromwholesale markets in Malaysia. Food Addit Contam Part B, 2013; 6:36–41.
10. Mosihuzzanman M. Chowder MI. Protocols on safety, efficacy, standardization anddocumentation of herbal medicine, Pure Applied Chemistry, 2008; 80(10): 2195-2230.
11. Ullah R, Khader JA, Hussain I, AbdElsalam NM, Talha M, Khan N. Investigation of macroand micro-nutrients in selected medicinal plants. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2012; 6(25): 1829-1832.
12. Yap DW, Adezrian J, Khairiah J, Ismail BS, Ahmad-Mahir R. The Uptake of Heavy Metalsby Paddy Plants (Oryza sativa) in Kota Marudu, Sabah, Malaysia. American-Eurasian J. Agric. And Environ. Sci., 2009; 6(1): 16-19.
13. Singh S, Sinha S, Saxena R, Pandey K, Bhatt K. Translocation of metals and its effects in the tomato plants grown on various amendments of tannery waste: evidence forinvolvement of antioxidants. Chemosphere, 2004; 57: 91-99.
14. Sharma RK, Agrawal M, Marshall F. Heavy metal contamination of soil and vegetables in suburban areas of Varanasi, India. Ecotoxicol. Environmental Safety, 2005; 66: 258-266.
15. Mirza N, Pervez A, Mahmood Q, Ahmed SS. Phytoremediation of Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Soil; World Applied Sciences J, 2010; 8(1): 113-118.
16. Salaramoli J, Salamat N,. Najafpour SH, Hassan J, Aliesfahani T. The Determination of Total Mercury and Methyl Mercury Contents of Oily White and Light Style of Persian Gulf Tuna Cans. World Applied Sciences Journal, 2012; 16(4): 577-582.
17. Pip E. Cadmium, Copper and Lead in Soils and Garden Produce Near a Metal Smelter at Flin Flon, Manitoba. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1991; 46: 790–796.
18. Arab AAK, Kawther MS, El Tantawy ME, Badeaa RI, Khayria N. Quantity Estimation of Some Contaminants in Commonly Used Medicinal Plants in the Market. Food Chemistry, 1999; 67: 357-363.
19. Öktüren AF, Sönmez S. Ağır Metal Toksisitesinin Bitki Metabolizması Üzerine Etkileri. Derim, 2006; 23 (2): 36-45.
20. Okcu M, Tozlu E, Kumlay AM, Pehluvan M. Ağır Metallerin Bitkiler Üzerine Etkileri. Alınteri, 2009; 17 (B): 14-26.
21. McLaughlin MJ, Parker DR, Clarke JM. Metals andmicronutrients—food safety issues. Field Crops Res, 1999; 60:143–163.
22. Rahman MA, Rahman MM, Reichman SM, Lim RP, Naidu R. Heavy metals in Australian grown and imported rice and vegetableson sale in Australia: health hazard. Ecotoxicology Environmental Safety, 2014; 100: 53–60
23. Islam Md S, Ahmed Md K, H.-Al-Mamun Md, Masunaga S. Assessment of trace metals in foodstuffs grown around the vicinityof industries in Bangladesh. J Food Comp Anal, 2015; 42: 8–15
24. Fraga CG. Relevance, essentiality and toxicity of trace elements inhuman health. Mol Asp Med, 2005; 26:235–244.
25. Mehri A. Trace Elements in Human Nutrition (II) – An UpdateInternational Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2020; 11: 2.
26. Frossard E,Bucher M,Mächler F,Mozafar A,Hurrell R. Potential for increasing the content and bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca in plants for human nutrition. J.Sci Food Agric, 2000; 80:861-879.
27. FAO/WHO. List of Maximum Levels Recommended for Contaminants by the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. 2nd Edition, FAO/WHO, Rome, 1984; 1-8.
28. Tokalıoğlu Ş, Çiçek B, İnanç N, Zararsız G, Öztürk A.Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Data and ICP-MS Determination of Heavy Metals in Different Brands of Spices Consumed in Kayseri, Turkey. Food Anal. Methods, 2018; 11: 2407–2418.
29. Obali İ, Ovalı F, Güner BN. Investigation of heavy metal contents of some medicinal and aromatic plants grown in the center of Çumra district in Konya province (Full text), UCEK-2021, III. International Congress on Geographical Education, 14-17 October 2021, Sivas, Turkey, 987-997.
30. Okut N. Heavy Metal Contents of Some Selected Medicinal Plants from Van Province. Journal of Iğdır University Institute of Science, 2019; 9 (1): 533-544.
31. Khan SA, Khan L, Hussain I, Marwat KB, Ashtray N. Profile of heavy metals in selected medicinal plants. Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research, 2008; 14(1-2): 101-110.
32. WHO. Guidelines for assessing quality of herbal medicines with reference to contaminants and residues. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2007.
33. WageshoY, Chandravanshi BS. Levels of essential and non-essential metals in ginger (Zingiber officinale) cultivated in Ethiopia. Springer Plus, 2015; 4(107): 2–13.
34. Leyssens L, Vincka B, Van Der Straeten C, Wuyts F, Maes L. Cobalt toxicity in humans—A review of the potential sources and systemic health effects. Toxicology, 2017; 387: 43-56.
35. Başgel S, Erdemoğlu SB. Determination of Mineral and Trace Elements in Some Medicinal Herbs and Their İnfusions Consumed in Turkey. Science of the Total Environment, 2006; 359: 82-89.
36. Arnich N, Sirot V, Rivière G, Jean J, Noël L, Guérin T, Leblanc JC. Dietary exposure to trace elements and health risk assessment in the 2nd French Total Diet Study. Food Chem Toxicol. 2012;50(7):2432-2449.
37. Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A. The Effects of Cadmium Toxicity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020; 17: 3782.
38. Costa BES, Coelho NMM, Coelho LM. Determination of arsenic species in rice samples using CPE and ETAAS. Food Chemistry, 2015; 178:89-95.
39. FAO/WHO, Joint FAO/WHO food standards programme codex committee on contaminants in foods. Working document for information and use in discussions related to contaminants and toxins in the GSCTFF, 2011.
40. Alolga RN, Chavez MASC, Muyaba M.Untargeted UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based metabolomics and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopic analysis reveal differences in the quality of ginger from two provinces in Zambia. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2018; 70 (9):1262–1271.