Isotope dilution-GC-MS/MS analysis of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in selected medicinal herbs used as health food additives

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) accumulation in selected medicinal plants: a mini review

The use of plant-based products in healthcare systems has experienced a tremendous rise leading to a substantial increase in global demand. However, the quality and effectiveness of such plant-based treatments are often affected due to contamination of various pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Like other plants, medicinal plants also uptake and accumulate PAHs when exposed to a contaminated environment. The consumption of such medicinal plants and/or plant-based products causes negative effects on health rather than providing any therapeutic advantages. Unfortunately, research focusing on PAH accumulation in medicinal plants has received very limited attention. This review discusses a sizable number of literature regarding the concentration of sixteen priority PAH pollutants as recognised by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in different medicinal plants. The review also highlights the risk assessment of cancer associated with some medicinal plants in terms of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalent concentrations.

Concentrations, Sources and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chinese Herbal Medicines

The determination and evaluation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seven Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) were conducted through a rapid and straightforward extraction and purification method, coupled with GC-MS. A sample-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment technique, incorporating isotopic internal standards, was employed for detecting various medicinal parts of CHMs. The assay exhibited linearity within the range of 5 to 500 ng/mL, with linear coefficients (R2) for PAHs exceeding 0.999. The recoveries of spiked standards ranged from 63.37% to 133.12%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.75% to 14.54%. The total PAH content varied from 176.906 to 1414.087 μg/kg. Among the 16 PAHs, phenanthrene (Phe) was consistently detected at the highest levels (47.045-168.640 μg/kg). Characteristic ratio analysis indicated that oil, coal, and biomass combustion were the primary sources of PAHs in CHMs. The health risk associated with CHMs was assessed using the lifetime carcinogenic risk approach, revealing potential health risks from the consumption of honeysuckle, while the health risks of consuming Lycium chinense berries were deemed negligible. For the other five CHMs (glycyrrhizae, Coix lacryma, ginseng, lotus seed, seed of Sterculia lychnophora), the health risk from consumption fell within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses utilizing Monte Carlo exposure assessment methods identified PAH levels in CHMs as health risk sensitizers. It is crucial to recognize that the consumption of herbal medicines is not a continuous process but entails potential health risks. Hence, the monitoring and risk assessment of PAH residues in CHMs demand careful attention.

GC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Herbal Medicines

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hydrophobic organic contaminants that have a highly carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. This study aimed to develop and validate a sensitive analytical method to determine 8 PAHs in 51 herbal medicines (HMs) using gas chromatography (GC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Liquid--liquid extraction and florisil SPE cartridge purification were basically adopted for pretreatment. For the samples containing essential oil, starch grain, etc., N,N-dimethyl formamide/water mixture (9:1, v/v) was added in the extraction step. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) conditions were newly obtained by the infusion of reference solutions of the targeted compounds at a concentration of 100 ng/mL into the GC-MS/MS system used in this study. The 51 items were classified according to whether or not they contained essential oil. Eight PAHs were not detected in 39 (8.3%) of the 459 samples monitored. The total content of 8 PAHs ranged from 0.45 μg/kg in Anemarrhenae Rhizoma to 270.94 μg/kg in Zingiberis Rhizoma. The average content of those ranged from 0.9 μg/kg in Araliae Continentalis Radix to 110.8 μg/kg in Coptidis Rhizoma Preparata cum Vinum. The results of this study prove that the proposed method is useful for determining 8 PAHs in HMs.

Rapid identification of the geographical origin of Eucommia ulmoides by using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence combined with chemometric methods

Eucommia ulmoides is an important and valuable traditional Chinese medicine with various medical functions, and has been widely used as health food in China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries for many years. The efficacy and quality of E. ulmoides are closely associated with the geographical origin. In this work, the potential of excitation-emission matrix (EEMs) fluorescence coupled with chemometric methods was investigated for simple, rapid and accurate for identification E. ulmoides from different geographical origins. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was applied for characterizing the fluorescence fingerprints of E. ulmoides samples. Moreover, k-nearest neighbor (kNN), principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were used for the classification of E. ulmoides samples according to their geographical origins. The results showed that kNN model was more suitable for identification of E. ulmoides samples from different provinces. The kNN model could identify E. ulmoides samples from eight different geographical origins with 100% accuracy on the training and test sets. Therefore, the proposed method was available for conveniently and accurately determining the geographical origin of E. ulmoides, which can expect to be an attractive alternative method for identifying the geographic origin of other traditional Chinese medicines.

Presence and risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in dietary plant supplements as elucidated by a combined DR CALUX® bioassay and GC-HRMS based approach

Plant-based dietary supplements may contain undesirable contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) due to the sources of raw materials or processing methods used. The presence of these contaminants in a series of herbal supplements sold on the Ghanaian market for improving sexual performance was examined using the DR CALUX^® bioassay in combination with GC-HRMS analysis. Overall, cell responses at 4 and 48 h exposure to extracts prepared without an acid-silica clean-up were relatively higher than the responses obtained from extracts prepared with an acid-silica clean-up. This indicated that the 40 supplements contained only low levels of stable aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists like polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dl-PCBs, while some contained substantial amounts of less stable AhR-agonists. Ten supplements selected for confirmation with GC-HRMS analysis contained PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.19 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ)/g only, while the level of the sum of 4 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ4PAHs) representing less stable AhR agonists, ranged from not detected (ND) to 25.5 ng/g. These concentrations were in line with the responses observed in the DR CALUX^® bioassay. The concentration of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs corresponded to estimated daily intakes (EDIs) ranging from 0.01 to 1.20 pg TEQ/day, or 0.001 to 0.12 pg TEQ/kg bw/week for a 70 kg bw consumer, which was below the established tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 2 pg TEQ/kg bw/week, thus indicating low concern for consumers' health. Similarly, the EDIs based on the detected Σ4PAHs in supplements ranged from 7.2 to 111 ng/day, or 0.1 to 1.6 ng/kg bw/day, which corresponded to MOE values above 10,000, indicating a low health concern.

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis

Covering: 2011 to the end of 2020Panax species (Araliaceae), particularly P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng, have a long history of medicinal use because of their remarkable tonifying effects, and currently serve as crucial sources for various healthcare products, functional foods, and cosmetics, aside from their vast clinical preparations. The huge market demand on a global scale prompts the continuous prosperity in ginseng research concerning the discovery of new compounds, precise quality control, ADME (absorption/disposition/metabolism/excretion), and biosynthesis pathways. Benefitting from the ongoing rapid development of analytical technologies, e.g. multi-dimensional chromatography (MDC), personalized mass spectrometry (MS) scan strategies, and multi-omics, highly recognized progress has been made in driving ginseng analysis towards "systematicness, integrity, personalization, and intelligentization". Herein, we review the advances in the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis pathway of ginseng over the past decade (2011-2020), with 410 citations. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of new compounds isolated (saponins and polysaccharides), and the emerging novel analytical technologies and analytical strategies that favor ginseng's authentic use and global consumption. Perspectives on the challenges and future trends in ginseng analysis are also presented.

Magnetic C60 nanospheres based solid-phase extraction coupled with isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the determination of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Chinese herbal medicines

C₆₀-based magnetic nanospheres were synthesized by coating Fe₃O₄ nanospheres with silica, then modifying with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a linker and a C₆₀ fullerene stationary phase. The morphologies, magnetic properties, infrared absorption and carbon content of magnetic nanospheres were studied by TEM, VSM, FTIR and carbon and sulfur analyzer. The magnetic nanospheres were employed for the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in nine Chinese herbal medicines. The analyses were conducted by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main parameters influencing the extraction, including extraction solvent, adsorbent amount, and extraction time were optimized. Method validation showed that the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.02-0.11 µg/kg, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.07-0.36 µg/kg. The spiked recoveries rates for 16 PAHs in white peony root were 84.7-107.2%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.7-8.4%. The established method was further used for the determination 16 PAHs in nine Chinese herbal medicines. Total content of 16 PAHs varied from 73.6 µg/kg (fructus lycii) to 2172.6 µg/kg (astragalus root). The results indicate that the pollution of PAHs in Chinese herbal medicines is serious. The established method can effective detect PAHs contamination in Chinese herbal medicines.

Determination and risk characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of tea by using the Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach

Tea is one of the most frequently consumed drinks due to its favourite taste and the health benefit. Tea is produced by several processes and drying is very important step to develop the flavour and destroys the enzymes in tea. However, during drying tea, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons some of which are carcinogen and genotoxin are naturally produced. The risk of PAHs by drinking tea was characterized by determining contents of 4 PAHs in tea. 4 PAHs including Benz(a)anthracene (BaA), Chrysene (CHR), Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) and Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) were investigated by GC-MS in total 468 tea products, which were contaminated up to 4.63 ng g-1. Mate tea was the most highly contaminated by BaA, CHR, BbF and BaP and followed by Solomon's seal and Chrysanthemum. The Margin of Exposures calculated by the concentration of BaA, CHR, BbF and BaP and consumption amount of tea were higher than 10,000, and the risk of PAHs in tea were low concern to public health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in traditional Chinese medicines: an analytical method based on different medicinal parts, levels, distribution, and sources

Analytical method of PAHs in TCMs based on different medicinal parts, levels, distribution, and sources.

The Occurrence of 16 EPA PAHs in Food - A Review

Occurrence and toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been extensively studied in countries all over the world. PAHs generally occur in complex mixtures which may consist of hundreds of compounds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed in the 1970 to monitor a set of 16 PAHs which are frequently found in environmental samples. This article reviews the suitability of the 16 EPA PAHs for the assessment of potential health threats to humans stemming from the exposure to PAHs by food ingestion. It presents details on analysis methods, the occurrence of PAHs in food, regulatory aspects, and related risk management approaches. In addition, consideration is given to newer evaluations of the toxicity of PAHs and the requirements for risk assessment and management stemming from them.