Trace metal concentrations in herbal medicine sole in abalaliki metropolis

Herbal medicines have been in use before conventional drugs in Nigeria and Ebonyi state in particular. Their uses have been on the increase due to its efficacy. The knowledge on the concentrations of trace metals is important for determining the effectiveness of the plants in treating various diseases. In this study, the concentration of trace metals in herbal medicine sold in Abakaliki metropolis was determined using varian spectra AA55B atomic absorption Spectrophotometer. The results obtained from the sample gotten from the international market showed that sample A ranged from 0.3±0.06 Cu to 7.15±0.145 Fe. Sample B ranged from 0.9±0.018 Cd to 5.8±0.116 Fe, while sample C, D, E, and F ranges from 0.75±0.015 Cd to 24.1±0.482 Fe, 5.65±0.113 Cd to 15.4±0.308 Fe, 1.2±0.024 Cd to 18.2±0.364 Fe, and 0.15±0.01 Cd to 5.2±0.112 Fe, respectively. Among all the studied samples, Fe has the highest concentrations. The Fe concentration in samples C, D, and E were above the permissible limit of W.H.O, while the Zn concentrations were within the acceptable limit of W.H.O. The Cd concentrations in the samples were above the standard limit except sample F. The Zn concentrations in all the studied samples fell within the acceptable limit of WHO. From kpirikpiri sample, the obtained results showed that the Cd concentrations of all the samples studied were within the acceptable limit of WHO except in samples A, B,C, and D which ranged from 0.1±0.01 sample F to 1.3±0.02 sample A. The World Health Organization acceptable limits for the concentration of Cd, Zn, and Fe in herbal medicine are 0.3, 100, and 15 µg/g, respectively.