Title : Investigation into the safety of herbal medicines distributed in Gyeonggi-do
Abstract:
To investigate the safety of herbal medicines distributed in Gyeonggi-do, the visual and organoleptic examination, lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, and total aflatoxin levels were examined on 80 samples. Through organoleptic examination, 6 samples, including Eucommiae Cortex, Eucommiae Cortex Preparata cum Sal, Ulmi Cortex, Pinelliae Tuber and Perillae Folium of properties and conditions were not met the standard or foreign substances rate exceeded. In heavy metal testing, cadmium levels exceeding the standard were detected in 6 samples, including Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Linderae Radix, Paeoniae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Puerariae Radix ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 mg/kg. Lead, arsenic, and mercury were shown to be safe in all samples as they met the standard. Sulfur dioxide was below the acceptable standard in most sample, but 34 to 790 mg/kg was detected in 3 samples, including Moutan Radicis Cortex, Dioacoreae Rhizoma and Pinelliae Tuber exceeding the standard. As a result of total aflatoxin analysis, in 4 samples including Glycirrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Pinelliae Tuber with total aflatoxin standard for herbal medicines were not detected, but high contents of 32.5 μg/kg and 82.5 μg/kg were detected in 2 samples of Angelicae Gigantis Radix without standard. It seems necessary to review the setting of mycotoxin standards for Angelicae Gigantis Radix, which is an item that has not been set.
