Rapid screening and risk assessment of various elements in ultrafine granular powder of Panax quinquefolius L.

Abstract

IntroductionPanax quinquefolius L. is obtained from a man-shaped root of several species of the genus Panax of the family Araliceae indigenous, which is thought to increase memory, decrease aging, and possess both digestion regulating and liver-protective activity. The widely used in daily life, making its risk assessment a matter of great importance. This research investigates the application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for rapid, non-targeted screening and risk assessment of various heavy metals and toxic agents in Panax quinquefolius L.'s ultrafine granular powder. MethodsThe Panax quinquefolius L. was ground to ultrafine granular powder and subjected to microwave digestion for pre-treatment. ICP-MS was then employed to scan all elements within the full spectrum range, allowing identification of heavy metals and toxic elements using the non-targeted detection method. Subsequently, risk assessment was conducted for Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn, Al, Hg, As, and Cd present in the powder, following the basic steps of risk assessment. ResultsThe concentrations of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu in ultrafine granular Panax quinquefolius L. powder were found to be below the limits established by the current pharmacopeia. Notably, essential trace elements for the human body, namely Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Mg, were relatively abundant in the powder, with concentrations ranging from 1441.30 to 4016.20, 51.16 to 577.04, 34.78 to 121.99, 17.85 to 83.49, and 1017.69 to 3194.16 mg/kg, respectively. The risk assessment indicated that, in terms of exposure to toxic elements, the order for a person consuming ultrafine granular Panax quinquefolius L. powder would be: Al > Mn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd > As > Hg. Importantly, the non-cancer risks associated with Ni, Pb, Al, Mn, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu in the ultrafine granular Panax quinquefolius L. powder were all within acceptable levels. ConclusionThis study successfully establishes a multi-element non-targeted rapid screening method combined with risk assessment techniques, enabling swift determination of harmful target element concentrations and risk profiles in ultrafine granular Panax quinquefolius L. powder. This approach serves as a technical reserve for effectively responding to incidents of toxicity potentially associated with traditional Chinese medicine.