Determination of heavy metal contents in herbal plant leaves collected from different locations of Chennai city

Abstract

Herbal medicines mainly based on plants enjoy a respective position today, especially in the developing countries, where modern health services are limited. Popularity of herbal drugs is increasing all over the world because of lesser side effects as compared to synthetic drugs besides it cost effectiveness and easy availability to poor people particularly in developing countries. The present study aimed to estimation of four heavy metals namely Iron, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Vitex negundo leaves. In study we observed the road side sample contain more heavy metals compared to two other site samples. Lead, cadmium, mercury and iron accumulation 6.05, 0.29, 0.07 & 4.75 mg/kg, was found in road side sample S3 respectively. All the sample heavy metals concentrations are below the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) permissible limits. The estimation of heavy metals is highly essential for raw drugs used for the preparation of herbal products. The periodic assessment is essential for quality control/ quality assurance and safer use of herbal products. Keywords: Vitex negundo, Leaves, heavy metals, Quality control, Herbal products, Contamination.