A comparative evaluation of heavy metal content in some medicinal plants and brands of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamin used as antimalarials

Abstract

High concentrations of heavy metals in medicinal plants and sulfadoxine (500 mg)/pyrimethamine (25 mg) (SP) may lead to health hazard as a result of the frequent use in the treatment of malaria. This study therefore, is a comparative analysis of heavy metal (Pb, Cr and Cd) content in medicinal plants used in the treatment of malaria in Abraka, Delta State Nigeria and SP antimalarial. Medicinal plants were collected from different locations (farmland, residential areas and highways) in Abraka, while SP antimalarial drugs were purchased from registered Pharmacies in Abraka. Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, Citrus sinesis, Mangifera indica, Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium guajava as well as SP samples were digested using a mixture of perchloric acid and nitric acid in a digestion flask. The samples were analysed for the presence of Pb, Cr and Cd using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in the medicinal plants ranged from ND-15.6 mg/kg, 0.44-3.92 mg/kg and ND-0.40 mg/kg for Pb, Cr and Cd respectively, while the concentrations of heavy metals in the SP antimalarial drugs ranged from ND-12.0 mg/kg, ND- 8.32 mg kg and ND-0.76 mg/kg for Pb, Cr and Cd respectively. The concentrations of Pb, Cr and Cd in the SP antimalarial drug samples were higher than those of medicinal plants, while the concentrations of Cr in the medicinal plants were higher than that of the SP antimalarial drugs.