A Comprehensive Overview of Herbal Contaminants and Residues: Regulations and Analytical Methods.

Abstract

Traditional medicines, often referred to as herbal phytoconstituents, are generally considered safe with minimal negative effects. Herbal remedies are a booming industry, valued at 60 billion dollars worldwide, and are gaining popularity in Western societies. Recent research indicates that many herbal formulations on the market have not undergone thorough quality and efficacy testing.  The main source of toxic heavy metals for plants is human activity, including burning fossil fuels and waste incinerators, using leaded gasoline, operating cement plants, processing ore in metallurgical facilities, and discharging sewage sludge without control. Additionally, agricultural chemicals like phosphate fertilizers containing cadmium can contaminate the plants they are used on. Lead, cadmium, mercury (especially in organic form such as methylmercury), and arsenic (only in mineral form) are the primary hazardous metals that pose health risks to humans. These metals do not have any essential or beneficial effects on living organisms. The study suggests that comprehensive quality checks using advanced analytical methods are necessary to ensure the safety of these products. Therefore, adhering to pharmacopeial standards guidelines is important when examining contaminants and their limits in herbal compositions. This review emphasizes the importance of impurity profiling in maintaining the quality of natural products and recommends the use of straightforward, accurate, and precise analytical techniques to eliminate impurities, adulterants and combined synthetic materials in herbal products