Arsenic Species in Cordyceps sinensis and Its Potential Health Risks.

Yaolei Li,Shuangcheng Ma,Yue Liu,Hongyu Jin,Xiao Han

doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.01471

Abstract

High arsenic residues make Cordyceps sinensis a concern in China. Arsenic toxicity is related to its species. Many studies have evaluated the toxicity of total arsenic, but few have studied its species. In this study, the species of arsenic in C. sinensis and its potential health risk were investigated. SEC-HPLC-ICP-MS was used to analysis of arsenic in C. sinensis and unknown arsenic (uAs) was discovered. Additionally, arsenic in C. sinensis was mainly found in alkali-soluble proteins. The trend of arsenic transformation indicated that unknown arsenic in C. sinensis may be converted into free inorganic arsenic, which enhanced toxicity. The result of risk assessment indicated that there were potential health risks of uAs. Hereon, we proposed recommendations for the use of C. sinensis and regulatory recommendations for arsenic standards. This study contributed to the toxicity reveal, safety evaluation, and risk assessment of arsenic in C. sinensis.

Highlights

Cordyceps sinensis, which distributes mainly in alpine regions in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Guizhou of China (Li et al, 2006; Yang et al, 2009), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a long history
After treated samples by simulated gastric juice, the extracts were detected by HPLC-ICP-MS, and total arsenic (tAs) was determined by ICP-MS
It should be noted that only 8% of free inorganic arsenic (iAs) in the Bioaccessible arsenic (bAs) was detected by HPLC-ICP-MS

Summary

Introduction

Cordyceps sinensis, which distributes mainly in alpine regions in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Guizhou of China (Li et al, 2006; Yang et al, 2009), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a long history. It is parasitic in the larvae of the bat moth, making the larvae body rigid, and forms a rod-shaped sub-seat in the head of the worm in summer (Yue et al, 2008; Huang et al, 2018). It is included in the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Chinese Pharmacopoeia Committee, 2015)

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