Download PDF
Planta Med 2013; 79(12): 1081-1083
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328713
Analytical Studies
Letters
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Trace Metals Accumulation in Bacopa monnieri and Their Bioaccessibility

Rama Venkata Srikanth Lavu
1   Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
,
Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad
2   Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
,
Varalakshmi Lalithya Pratti
1   Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
5   Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
,
Ralph Meißner
3   UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Soil Physics, Lysimeter Station, Falkenberg, Germany
,
Jörg Rinklebe
4   Institute for Soil Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Department D, Civil Engineering, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
,
Tom Van De Wiele
5   Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
,
Filip Tack
1   Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
,
Gijs Du Laing
1   Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 11 November 2012
revised 29 May 2013

accepted 30 May 2013

Publication Date:
03 July 2013 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Bacopa monnieri is commonly known as “Brahmi” or “Water hyssop” and is a source of nootropic drugs. Aboveground parts of plant samples collected from peri-urban Indian areas were analysed for total trace metal concentrations. Subsequently, three samples with high concentrations of Cd and Pb were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion to assess the bioaccessibility of the trace metals in these plants. The total concentrations of trace metals on a dry weight basis were 1.3 to 6.7 mg · kg−1 Cd, 1.5 to 22 mg · kg−1 Pb, 36 to 237 mg · kg−1 Cu, and 78 to 186 mg · kg−1 Zn. The majority of Bacopa monnieri samples exceeded threshold limits of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn for use as raw medicinal plant material or direct consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate Bacopa monnieri collected in nature for their trace metal content prior to human consumption and preparation of herbal formulations.

Key words

Bacopa monnieri - Scrophulariaceae - bioaccessibility - brain tonic - herbal drug - toxic metals

Supporting Information

 

  • References

  • 1 Mathew J, Paul J, Nandhu M, Paulose C. Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A for ameliorating epilepsy associated behavioral deficits. Fitoterapia 2010; 81: 315-322
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Singh H. Brain enhancing ingredients from Āyurvedic medicine: quintessential example of Bacopa monnieri, a narrative review. Nutrients 2013; 5: 478-497
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Ghosh T, Maity TK, Singh J. Antihyperglycemic activity of bacosine, a triterpene from Bacopa monnieri, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Planta Med 2011; 77: 804-808
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Lenka M, Panda KK, Panda BB. Monitoring and assessment of mercury pollution in the vicinity of a chloralkali plant. IV. Bioconcentration of mercury in in situ aquatic and terrestrial plants at Ganjam, India. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 1992; 22: 195-202
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Shukla OP, Dubey S, Rai UN. Preferential accumulation of cadmium and chromium: toxicity in Bacopa monnieri L. under mixed metal treatments. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2007; 78: 252-257
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Jalili M, Azizkhani R. Lead toxicity resulting from chronic ingestion of opium. West J Emerg Med 2009; 10: 244-246
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Brewer GJ. Copper toxicity in the general population. Clin Neurophysiol 2010; 121: 459-460
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Jayawardene I, Saper R, Lupoli N, Sehgal A, Wright RO, Amarasiriwardena C. Determination of in vitro bioaccessibility of Pb, As, Cd and Hg in selected traditional Indian medicines. J Anal At Spectrom 2010; 25: 1275-1282
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 World Health Organization (WHO). WHO guidelines on good agricultural and field collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants. Geneva: WHO; 2003
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 10 FAO/WHO. Contaminants. In: WHO, editors. Codex Alimentarius, Volume 17. 1st edition.. Geneva: WHO; 1984
    Google Scholar
  • 11 World Health Organization (WHO). Environmental health criteria 134 – Cadmium International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Monograph. Geneva: WHO; 1992
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 12 FAO/WHO. Codex Alimentarious Commission. Draft maximum levels for lead. CX/FAC 00/24. Joint FAO/WHO food standards programme codex committee on food additives and contaminants. Geneva: WHO; 1999
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gautam S, Platel K, Srinivasan K. Higher bioaccessibility of iron and zinc from food grains in the presence of garlic and onion. J Agric Food Chem 2010; 58: 8426-8429
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gillooly M, Bothwell T, Torrance J, MacPhail A, Derman D, Bezwoda W, Mills W, Charlton R, Mayet F. The effect of organic acids, phytates and polyphenols on the absorption of iron from vegetables. Br J Nutr 1983; 49: 331-336
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Lavu RV, Du Laing G, Van de Wiele T, Pratti VL, Willekens K, Vandecasteele B, Tack F. Fertilizing soil with selenium fertilizers: impact on concentration, speciation, and bioaccessibility of selenium in leek (Allium ampeloprasum). J Agric Food Chem 2012; 60: 10930-10935
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar