Heavy metals in traditional Indian remedies
- PMID:11936709
- DOI: 10.1007/s00228-001-0400-y
Heavy metals in traditional Indian remedies
Abstract
The growing popularity of traditional Indian remedies necessitates a critical evaluation of risks associated with their use. This systematic review aims at summarising all available data relating to the heavy metal content in such remedies. Computerised literature searches were carried out to identify all articles with original data on this subject. Fifteen case reports and six case series were found. Their collective results suggest that heavy metals, particularly lead, have been a regular constituent of traditional Indian remedies. This has repeatedly caused serious harm to patients taking such remedies. The incidence of heavy metal contamination is not known, but one study shows that 64% of samples collected in India contained significant amounts of lead (64% mercury, 41% arsenic and 9% cadmium). These findings should alert us to the possibility of heavy metal content in traditional Indian remedies and motivate us to consider means of protecting consumers from such risks.
Similar articles
- Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products.Saper RB, Kales SN, Paquin J, Burns MJ, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Phillips RS.Saper RB, et al.JAMA. 2004 Dec 15;292(23):2868-73. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.23.2868.JAMA. 2004.PMID:15598918
- A review of the clinical and toxicological aspects of 'traditional' (herbal) medicines adulterated with heavy metals.Lynch E, Braithwaite R.Lynch E, et al.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2005 Jul;4(4):769-78. doi: 10.1517/14740338.4.4.769.Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2005.PMID:16011453Review.
- A cluster of lead poisoning among consumers of Ayurvedic medicine.Breeher L, Mikulski MA, Czeczok T, Leinenkugel K, Fuortes LJ.Breeher L, et al.Int J Occup Environ Health. 2015;21(4):303-7. doi: 10.1179/2049396715Y.0000000009. Epub 2015 Apr 6.Int J Occup Environ Health. 2015.PMID:25843124Free PMC article.
- Simultaneous exposure to lead, arsenic and mercury from Indian ethnic remedies.Sheerin NS, Monk PN, Aslam M, Thurston H.Sheerin NS, et al.Br J Clin Pract. 1994 Nov-Dec;48(6):332-3.Br J Clin Pract. 1994.PMID:7848800
- Lead poisoning caused by Indian ethnic remedies in Italy.Muzi G, Dell'Omo M, Murgia N, Curina A, Ciabatta S, Abbritti G.Muzi G, et al.Med Lav. 2005 Mar-Apr;96(2):126-33.Med Lav. 2005.PMID:16001512Review.
Cited by
- Evaluation of subchronic genotoxic potential of Swarna Makshika Bhasma.Savalgi PB, Patgiri B, Thakkar JH, Ravishankar B, Gupta VB.Savalgi PB, et al.Ayu. 2012 Jul;33(3):418-22. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.108858.Ayu. 2012.PMID:23723652Free PMC article.
- Use and perception of risk: traditional medicines of Pakistani immigrants in Norway.Khalid S, Kristoffersen AE, Alpers LM, Borge CR, Qureshi SA, Stub T.Khalid S, et al.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Sep 7;24(1):331. doi: 10.1186/s12906-024-04620-0.BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024.PMID:39244539Free PMC article.
- Advancements and future prospective of DNA barcodes in the herbal drug industry.Mahima K, Sunil Kumar KN, Rakhesh KV, Rajeswaran PS, Sharma A, Sathishkumar R.Mahima K, et al.Front Pharmacol. 2022 Oct 21;13:947512. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.947512. eCollection 2022.Front Pharmacol. 2022.PMID:36339543Free PMC article.Review.
- Short-End Injection Capillary Electrophoresis and Multivariate Analysis for Simultaneous Determination of Heavy Metals inPassiflora incarnata Tea.Klassen A, Fernandes RF, de Oliveira DC, do Nascimento MP, Borges MMC, de Oliveira MAL, Calixto LA, Borges KB.Klassen A, et al.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 30;19(23):15994. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192315994.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022.PMID:36498066Free PMC article.
- Hepatotoxicity due to hydroxycut: a case series.Fong TL, Klontz KC, Canas-Coto A, Casper SJ, Durazo FA, Davern TJ 2nd, Hayashi P, Lee WM, Seeff LB.Fong TL, et al.Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jul;105(7):1561-6. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2010.5. Epub 2010 Jan 26.Am J Gastroenterol. 2010.PMID:20104221Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources