In developing countries, an increase of diabetes became an alarming issue
and recognized as the third leading fatal disorder among all syndromes. Bangladesh
also has a large number of diabetic people in the world. In the present study, the
quantification of major toxic metals and the assessment of their safety in the antidiabetic
herbal preparations had been undertaken. In our investigation, a handful of
samples collected randomly from different kiosks and herbal retail shops in Dhaka city,
Bangladesh, were exposed to the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. It was found
that the average concentration of calcium was the highest (660.82mg/50gm) and
arsenic was the lowest in concentrations (<0.01mg/50gm) in all anti-diabetic herbal
preparations (ADHPs). Cu, Fe and Ni concentration above the safety limits and two
samples containing Zn concentration above the safety limits were recommended by
WHO and FAO as 3 ppm, 20 ppm, 1.63 ppm and 50 ppm for herbal drugs,
respectively. Other toxic heavy metals like As, Pb and Co were found with a respective
concentration of <0.01, <0.012 and <0.22 mg/50 gm, which were all within their safe
consumption limit. Patients who take the herbal drugs can suffer from dizziness, nausea
and vomiting, dermatitis, irritation of the upper respiratory tract, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, joints pain, shock, and even liver damage due to the overdose of iron and
zinc. Based on the present study, it can be clarified that the percentage of heavy metal
concentrations in herbal drugs in Bangladesh is at risk. Regulatory agencies should
come forward and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of finished herbal
preparations.
Keywords: Anti-diabetic herbal preparations (ADHP), Heavy metal, X-ray
fluorescence (XRF).
