Quantification of toxic heavy metals, trace elements and essential minerals contents in traditional herbal medicines commonly utilized in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25384
• Publication Date: 2024-02-01T21:14:36Z
• Authors: Muhammad Sohail A...; Abad Khan; Lateef Ahmad; Amjad Khan; Abdul Mateen; Saqib Jahan; Ubaid Ullah; Najla AlMasoud; Taghrid S. Alomar; Abdur Rauf; Faheem Ullah Khan; Noor Ul Ain Nawaz
• Keywords: Khyber pakhtunkhwa

Traditional herbal medicines and health supplements have been empirically used to treat various disorders but most of them are not standardized experimentally validated for safety efficacy. In the present study, dosage forms traditional prescribed specific diseases were collected from local practitioners at different districts Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The samples analyzed heavy metal, trace elements, minerals using atomic absorption spectroscopy. All tested contained metals, elements in concentrations. positive presence toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) lead (Pb). like cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) chromium (Cr) also detected acceptable range. Similarly, rich some essential sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg) calcium (Ca) which necessary proper functioning body. hazard quotient (HQ) values measured determine their safe ranges human HQ above permissible range (As) all while (Pb), ware 50 % samples. detection beyond limits raised questions about quality. This study suggests that evaluation remedies contents standardization strongly recommended quality assurance protection public health.