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Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 6(27), pp. 4436-4442, 18 July, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR DOI: 10.5897/JMPR12.778 ISSN 1996-0875 ©2012 <strong>Academic</strong> <strong>Journals</strong> Full Length Research Paper Assessment of fluoride, chloride and sulfate contamination of herbal teas, and possible interference with the medicinal properties Mohamed Yehia Abouleish* and Naser Abdo Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Accepted 22 June, 2012 Herbal teas are sold for medicinal purposes, as well as a beverage. Herbal teas may consist of many ingredients, mainly botanical ingredients, and therefore are susceptible to contamination from the environment and manufacturing processes, which can interfere with their medicinal purposes. This research investigated the contamination of herbal teas by fluoride, chloride and sulfate. The results demonstrated that none of the samples contained fluoride. As for chloride and sulfate levels, some samples exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission (EC) permissible levels (250 mg/L) for drinking water, while others demonstrated high levels but did not exceed the permissible levels. Some samples exceeded the 500 mg/L sulfate level suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) to cause health problems. This study demonstrated that the herbal teas contamination is from the herbal teas ingredients and not only from the water used for the preparation. Contamination of the herbal teas and sometimes exceeding the permissible levels could lead to health problems, interfere with the function, and therefore defy the purpose of using it. Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness of the herbal teas as an alternative medicine and avoid health problems, herbal teas should fall under stringent regulations concerning planting, harvesting, manufacturing, and ensuring quality control. Key words: Fluoride, chloride, sulfate, contamination, herbal tea, botanical product, US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), World Health Organization (WHO). INTRODUCTION Herbal tea is sometimes referred to as a botanical product, as it may contain either a single or a multivegetable ingredient (US FDA, 2004). Herbal teas are sold under many brands and serve an extensive list of uses from a beverage to serving as a supplement for medicinal purposes (AHPA-ERB, 2008; Peter, 2004; Woolf, 2003). For example, some herbal teas are used for digestion, respiratory and gas problems (Zhang et al., 2011). Herbal teas consist of botanical extracts - that is plants that are grown in the environment, and accordingly they are susceptible to contamination from environmental pollution caused by human activities (Rembialkowska, *Corresponding author. E-mail: mabouleish@aus.edu. Tel: 971- 6-515-2480. Fax: 971-6-515-2450. 2007; Woolf, 2003). Herbal teas exist on the market in the processed and unprocessed forms, and as a result, handling and manufacturing processes may act as a source of contamination for the products as well (Woolf, 2003). Both chemical and biological contamination of the herbal tea products are a serious matter and can arise from the drinking water used for the preparation of the herbal teas. Chemical contamination of the drinking water is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) National Drinking Water Regulations (NDWR), United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and other international organizations, depending on the country (US EPA, 2009; US FDA, 2009). Some of the contaminants that are considered under the NDWR can cause either health problems, or cosmetic and aesthetic effects (US EPA,
Table 1. Herbal tea samples. Abouleish and Abdo 4437 Herbal sample 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Herbal Ingredient (Label information) Recommended age (month) Fennel Chamomile Anise, balm, chamomile, fennel, peppermint, thyme Fennel Herbal extract Hibiscus, orange, peach, raspberry, rose hip Fennel Fennel Anise, balm, chamomile, fennel, peppermint, thyme Birth 2 6 6 4 6 Birth 6 6 2 Fluoride (mg/L) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Chloride a (mg/L) 445.82±0.77 68.42±0.15 91.43±0.48 76.32±0.60 186.52±0.075 101.85±0.15 3349.5±2.52 79.19±0.82 98.12±0.19 70.47±0.35 Sulfate a (mg/L) 942.01±1.76 108.90±2.88 298.76±2.28 167.64±0.68 404.48±2.54 158.12±0.40 9352.4±10.28 103.52±0.28 300.64±0.34 113.69±2.04 a Anion concentration ± standard deviation. 2009). Some of the contaminants that fall under the NDWR include fluoride, chloride and sulfate. Contamination of the final product, whether from the herbal product’s ingredients or the drinking water used for preparation, will add to the overall contamination and could have side effects. For example, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), if sulfate that usually exist in the drinking water are present at low levels, there are no associated health effects. However, if sulfate exists in the drinking water at a very high concentration (above 500 mg/L), it may lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and intestinal pain in babies (WDHS, 2000; WHO, 2011). Therefore, there is a concern over the toxicity of such products (Woolf, 2003) and if there is any interference with the intended purpose for using the herbal teas, since if such conditions exist, health problems may occur especially for children (Bakerink et al., 1996; Ize-Ludlow et al., 2004; Saper et al., 2004; Tomassoni and Simone, 2001; Woolf, 2003). Therefore, the goal of this research is to study the different herbal teas - that are marketed for infant and children use, and could be used by adults, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market - for possible contamination with fluoride, chloride, and sulfate. Accordingly, this study will shed light on the chemical contamination of the herbal products and the quality of the herbs used in the preparation of the products, and whether the contamination in the final herbal tea product is originating from the herbs or from the water used for the preparation. In addition, it will indicate whether the herbal teas can possibly have side effects on human health, especially in sensitive people, children and babies, and accordingly, interfere with their intended medicinal use. MATERIALS AND METHODS Herbal tea samples Ten herbal tea brands that represented all the brands on the UAE market, were purchased from local markets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in UAE (Table 1). The ten herbal tea brands are marketed for infant and children intake and could be used by adults (Table 1). Herbal tea samples varied in ingredients, form, flavor, smell and texture (Table 1). The herbal tea samples were in the processed form (pre-mixed with other ingredients and cooked) when purchased, except for sample 7 that was in the unprocessed form (stems and leaves). Except for Chamomile sample 7, all of the other herbal samples contained, in addition to the herbal ingredient(s), other ingredients that were reported on the labels of the product; for example, glucose, sucrose, dextrose, maltodextrin, acids (citric and ascorbic), and vegetable oil. The herbal tea samples were manufactured in Germany. The samples were analyzed after purchase for fluoride (F - ), chloride (Cl - ) and sulfate (SO4 2- ) anions. Each herbal tea sample was prepared for analysis by dissolving 1 g of the sample in 10 mL de-ionized water (Millipore “Simplicity” Purification System, USA). The samples were then filtered through a 0.45 μm membrane filter (Schleicher and Schuell, UK), prior to ion chromatography (IC) analysis. The preparation of the samples did not involve any heating. Fluoride, chloride and sulfate analysis A Waters IC system, consisting of an IC-Pak Anion HR 4.6X75 mm column, 616 pump with 600 S controller, 717 plus autosampler, 432 conductivity detector, and Millennium 32 software, was used for the analysis of the anions at room temperature. The isocratic mobile phase was prepared by mixing 20 mL of n-butanol (HPLC grade, Hipersolv, UK), 120 mL of acetonitrile (HPLC grade, Hipersolv, UK), 20 mL of sodium borate/gluconate concentrate (18 g boric acid, 16 g sodium gluconate, 25 g disodium tetraborate decahydrate and 250 mL glycerin diluted to 1 L with deionized water), then diluted to 1 L by
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Editors Prof. Akah Peter Achunike E
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Electronic submission of manuscript
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Fees and Charges: Authors are requi
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supplement of dietary minerals. The
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several studies. MO leaves ethanoli
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Journal of Medicinal Plants Researc
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Table 1. Pa and Pi of PTK inhibitor
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Table 1. Plant collection and stora
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Table 2. Count’d. Psydrax livida
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