The limitation of heavy metals in raw materials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important issue for the quality control of TCM. The amount of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) in Schisandrae Fructus, Asparagi Radix, Clematidis Caulis, Ginkgo Semen, Haliotidis Concha, Bambusae Caulis in Taenia, Magnoliae Flos, Isatidis Radix, Cuscutae Semen, Xanthii Fructus, Rehmanniae Radix, Nelumbinis Semen, Bombyx Batryticatus and Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix were determined by ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). The 80(superscript th) percentile of each heavy metal in TCM lied in range of 0.04-6.09 ppm, 0.01-0.26 ppm, < 0.05- 0.05 ppm, 0.06-1.92 ppm, and 2.57-18.69 ppm for Pb, Cd, Hg, As and Cu. These survey data could provide limitation assessment of heavy metals in raw materials of TCM as the regulatory authority.
The limitation of heavy metals in raw materials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important issue for the quality control of TCM. The amount of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) in Schisandrae Fructus, Asparagi Radix, Clematidis Caulis, Ginkgo Semen, Haliotidis Concha, Bambusae Caulis in Taenia, Magnoliae Flos, Isatidis Radix, Cuscutae Semen, Xanthii Fructus, Rehmanniae Radix, Nelumbinis Semen, Bombyx Batryticatus and Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix were determined by ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). The 80(superscript th) percentile of each heavy metal in TCM lied in range of 0.04-6.09 ppm, 0.01-0.26 ppm, < 0.05- 0.05 ppm, 0.06-1.92 ppm, and 2.57-18.69 ppm for Pb, Cd, Hg, As and Cu. These survey data could provide limitation assessment of heavy metals in raw materials of TCM as the regulatory authority.