ABSTRACT
In this study, the content of five heavy metals(Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu) in 59 batches of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos(LJF) medicinal materials and pieces were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The health risk assessment was processed using the maximum estimated daily intake(EDI), target hazard quotients(THQ), and carcinogenic risks(CR) assessment models. With reference to the limit standard for heavy metal content in LJF specified in 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, five batches produced in Hebei were found to contain excessive Pb, and the remaining 54 batches met the specifications, with the unqualified rate of 8.47%. Comparative analysis of heavy metal content in LJF samples from three different producing areas, namely Shandong, Henan, and Hebei showed that the levels of Pb, As, and Hg in LJF from Hebei were significantly higher than those from Henan and Shandong. The samples produced in Shandong contained the highest content of Cd. The samples from Hebei contained the highest content of Cu while those from Shandong had the lowest content of Cu. As demonstrated by health risk assessment based on the EDI, THQ and CR models, these 59 batches of LJF samples did not cause significant health hazards for the exposed population, and there was no potential non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risk. In conclusion, a few of LJF samples contained excessive heavy metals, so some measures, including controlling production environment, cultivating management mode, and optimizing processing methods, should be taken for ensuring the medication safety of LJF.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Environmental Pollution/analysis , Mercury/toxicity , Metals, Heavy/toxicity , Risk AssessmentABSTRACT
In order to explore the chloroplast genome characteristics of Sophora flavescens and the phylogenetic relationship of the genus, this study used high-throughput sequencing technology to sequence and functionally annotate the chloroplast genome of Sophora flavescens. The results showed that the full length 154 165 bp of Sophora flavescens chloroplast genome showed a typical four-stage structure. The chloroplast genome contains 123 genes, including 77 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Sequence analysis revealed 104 SSR loci, most of which consisted of A and T. In addition, the chloroplast genome codon preference is weak, and the coding region is biased towards the use of A and T bases. A comparative analysis of two different regions of Sophora flavescens chloroplast genome revealed four differential genes. Based on the maximum likelihood method (ML) for phylogenetic analysis of Sophora flavescens and 16 other leguminous, it was found that the relationship between Sophora flavescens and the genus Sophora alopecuroides is the closest. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the genetic variation, breeding and phylogenetic analysis of Sophora flavescens, and has certain reference value.