Smectite for Medical Use and Their Toxin Binding Capacity

Abstract

A detoxification product (Symbio®detox), containing diosmectite, boswellia and Commiphora resin was tested in terms of its adsorption behavior. We showed that it was able to adsorb large amounts of various toxins, including heavy metals,ammonium and histamine. At pH=2.0 is 9.5% of lead 98% of mercury and 8.8% zinc were adsorbed, while ammonium (2.5%) remained largely unaffected. At pH 6.5, we observed significantly increased adsorption for lead (60.4%), ammonium (7.2%) and histamine (91%); the adsorption of zinc (11.2%) was only slightly higher than at pH=2.0. By contrast, the adsorption of mercury (84.6%) was slightly lower under these conditions. The adsorption of toxic heavy metals including mercury and lead was greater than that of zinc. Thus, Symbio®detox may be used as a medical product because of its excellent binding capacity for toxins including heavy metals, ammonia and histamine. In addition, the product is not likely to result in deficiency of the essential mineral zinc. Finally, we did not detect adsorption of the pharmaceutically relevant ingredients Boswellia serrata resin and Commiphora molmol resin.