Analysis of harmful heavy metals, sulfur and main trace elements from Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after sulfur-fumigated process by ICP-AES method / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the contents of harmful heavy metals, sulfur and trace elements from Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after sulfur-fumigated process.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Samples were pretreated by wet digestion and then subjected to elements analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The contents of Cu and S elements were increased, while the content of Zn element was decreased in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process compared with the samples dried in the sun. Moreover, heavy metallic elements, such as As and Hg, were detected in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sulfur fumigated process may cause residual of heavy metals and sulfur which are harmful to human body and change the contents of some trace elements.</p>