Analysis of heavy metal content in edible honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) from China and health risk assessment

Rhizosphere microbial markers (micro-markers): A new physical examination indicator for traditional Chinese medicines

Rhizosphere microorganisms, as one of the most important components of the soil microbiota and plant holobiont, play a key role in the medicinal plant-soil ecosystem, which are closely related to the growth, adaptability, nutrient absorption, stress tolerance and pathogen resistance of host plants. In recent years, with the wide application of molecular biology and omics technologies, the outcomes of rhizosphere microorganisms on the health, biomass production and secondary metabolite biosynthesis of medicinal plants have received extensive attention. However, whether or to what extent rhizosphere microorganisms can contribute to the construction of the quality evaluation system of Chinese medicinal materials is still elusive. Based on the significant role of rhizosphere microbes in the survival and quality formation of medicinal plants, this paper proposed a new concept of rhizosphere microbial markers (micro-markers), expounded the relevant research methods and ideas of applying the new concept, highlighted the importance of micro-markers in the quality evaluation and control system of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), and introduced the potential value in soil environmental assessment, plant pest control and quality assessment of TCMs. It provides reference for developing ecological planting of TCMs and ensuring the production of high quality TCMs by regulating rhizosphere microbial communities.

Preparation, Antioxidant Activities and Bioactive Components of Kombucha Beverages from Golden-Flower Tea (Camellia petelotii) and Honeysuckle-Flower Tea (Lonicera japonica)

Kombucha is a fermented tea known for its health benefits. In this study, golden-flower tea (Camellia petelotii) and honeysuckle-flower tea (Lonicera japonica) were first used as raw materials to prepare kombucha beverages. The antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents, concentrations of bioactive components, and sensory scores of two kombucha beverages were assessed. Additionally, effects of fermentation with or without tea residues on kombucha beverages were compared. The results found that two kombucha beverages possessed strong antioxidant activities and high scores of sensory analysis. In addition, fermentation with golden-flower tea residues could remarkably enhance the antioxidant activity (maximum 2.83 times) and total phenolic contents (3.48 times), while fermentation with honeysuckle tea residues had a minor effect. Furthermore, concentrations of several bioactive compounds could be increased by fermentation with golden-flower tea residues, but fermentation with honeysuckle-flower tea residues had limited effects. Moreover, the fermentation with or without tea residues showed no significant difference on sensory scores of golden-flower tea kombucha and honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha, and golden-flower tea kombucha had higher sensory scores than honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha. Therefore, it might be a better strategy to produce golden-flower tea kombucha by fermentation with tea residues, while honeysuckle-flower tea kombucha could be prepared without tea residues.

An Environmental-friendly Procedure Based on Deep Eutectic Solvent for Extraction and Determination of Toxic Elements in Fish Species from Different Regions of Iraq

In this study, an eco-friendly procedure was established by vortex-assisted liquid-phase microextraction based on deep eutectic solvent (VA-LPME-DES) combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). The performance of this method was demonstrated by the extraction and analysis of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in fish samples. The hydrophobic DES is considered as a green extractant (environmentally friendly and less toxic than common organic solvents) and is a suitable alternative to common toxic organic solvents and is made of l-menthol and ethylene glycol (EG) with a molar ratio of 1:1. Under optimized conditions, the method linearity was in the ranges of 0.15-150 µg kg-1 with the coefficient of determinations (r2) higher than 0.996. Accordingly, the detection limits for Pb, Cd, and Hg were 0.05, 0.05, and 0.10 µg kg-1, respectively. The analysis of fish samples showed that the concentration of toxic elements in fish caught from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers is much higher than the concentration of these elements in locally farmed trout fish. Also, the analysis of fish-certified reference materials with presented procedure produced results that were in good agreement with the certified values. The results showed that VA-LPME-DES is a very cheap, fast, and environmental-friendly procedure for the analysis of toxic elements in different types of fish species.

Progress in ICP-MS Analysis of Minerals and Heavy Metals in Traditional Medicine

Aim: This study systematically reviewed the application of ICP-MS and its combined technology in the determination of mineral and heavy metal elements in medicinal materials derived from plants, animals, minerals and their preparations (Chinese patent medicine), and biological products. It provides a reference for improving the quality standard of traditional medicine and exploring the effective components, toxic components, and action mechanism of traditional medicine.

Materials and Methods: A total of 234 articles related to the determination of mineral and heavy metal elements in medicinal materials derived from plants, animals, and minerals and their preparations (Chinese patent medicine) were collected from PubMed, CNKI, Web of Science, VIP, and other databases. They were classified and sorted by the inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) method.

Results: Of the 234 articles, 154 were about medicinal materials derived from plants, 15 about medicinal materials derived from animals, 9 about medicinal materials derived from minerals, 46 about Chinese patent medicine, 10 about combined technology application, and 3 about drugs being tested after entering the body. From the 154 articles on medicinal materials derived from plants, 76 elements, including Cu, Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Mn, and Hg, were determined, of which the determination of Cu was the most, with 129 articles. Medicinal materials derived from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits and seeds of plants accounted for 25.97%, 18.18%, 7.14%, 7.79%, and 14.94%, respectively. Moreover, medicinal materials derived from the whole plants accounted for 14.94%, and other medicinal materials derived from plants and soil accounted for 11.04%. A total of 137 of the tested medicinal materials were from traditional Chinese medicine, accounting for 88.96%, 12 were from Arabic medicine (including Unani), accounting for 7.79%, 2 were from Tibetan medicine of China, and 1 was from Mongolian medicine of China, 1 was from Miao medicine of China, and 1 was from Zhuang medicine of China. In the 15 articles on medicinal materials derived from animals, 49 elements such as Cu, As, Cd, Hg, Se, Pb, and Mn were determined, of which Cu was the most. All the tested medicinal materials belong to traditional Chinese medicine. From the nine articles on medicinal materials derived from minerals, 70 elements such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, As, Se, and Na were determined, of which Fe, Cu, and Zn were the most. The tested medicinal materials all belong to traditional Chinese medicine. From the 46 articles on Chinese patent medicine, 62 elements such as Cu, As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Cr were determined, of which Cu was the most. Regarding the tested Chinese patent medicine, 38 articles belong to traditional Chinese medicine, 6 to Tibetan medicine, and 2 to Mongolian medicine of China. Three articles determine the content of metal elements in biological samples such as animal hepatic venous blood, abdominal aortic blood, brain, liver, kidney, urine, and feces, and one article determines the content of metal elements in human lung and serum. From the 10 articles combined with liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, 16 elements such as MMA, DMA, AsIII, AsV, AsB, AsC, and AsI₃ were determined, of which MMA and DMA were the most. It can realize elemental morphology and isotope analysis. The tested medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicine belong to traditional Chinese medicine.

Conclusion: ICP-MS was applied the most in traditional Chinese medicine, followed by Arabic medicine. ICP-MS was used to determine more medicinal materials derived from plants, and Cu was determined the most. The characteristic inorganic element spectrum of medicinal materials can also be established. ICP-MS and its combined technology are widely used in Chinese patent medicine, but the test of biological samples is the least. The information provided in this article can provide a reference for improving the quality standard of traditional medicines and exploring the active ingredients and toxic ingredients and their mechanism of action.