1. Removal Effects of Heavy Metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) in Herbal Medicines by Washing KIM Dong-Gyu*, HAN Eun-Jung, JUNG Sam-Joo, HAN Chang-Ho, KIM Ouk-Hee, KWAK Jae-Eun, KIM Bog-Soon, CHOI Byung-Hyun, PARK Seung-Kook 1 Herb Medicine Inspection Team, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and environment, Korea. 1 Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, korea. This study was performed to study the removal efficiency of harmful heavy metals in herbal ingredients composed of Ssangwha-Tang by washing treatment. Ssangwha-Tang is used for antifatigue, tonic and so on. With industrial development, our environment has been very polluted. Herbal medicines also seriously contaminated by heavy metals. This study was carried out on 21 samples with 7 kinds of herbal medicines. The samples were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion, and mercury analyzer. After treated with water wash, the removal rates(%) of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) in Glycyrrhizae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Cinnamon Bark, Paeoniae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Astragali Radix were appeared with 30 ∼ 44 %, 28 ∼ 54 %, 15 ∼ 23 %, 13 ∼ 53 %, 12 ∼ 50 %, 4 ∼ 41 % and 10 ∼ 67 %, respectively. These data will be used to establish a criterion of heavy metals in herbal medicines. Key words : herbal medicines; washing; removal rates; ICP-MS; heavy metals; Abstracts Herbal Medicines (korean) n 1) Washing Loss on drying (%) ArsenicCadmiumLeadMercuryTotal (As,Cd,Pb,Hg) ppmRD(%) 3) ppmRD(%)ppmRD(%)ppmRD(%)ppmRD(%) Glycyrrhizae Radix ( 감초 ) 3 before2.7± 0.3 0.083± 0.019 4) 0.033± 0.0050.068± 0.0020.001± 0.0010.185± 0.027 after 2) 3.6± 0.20.053± 0.00336.10.031± 0.0046.10.027± 0.00360.30.001± 0.000-0.112± 0.01039.5 Angelicae Gigantis Radix ( 당귀 ) 3 before2.2± 0.10.071± 0.0020.240± 0.0110.325± 0.0140.003± 0.0010.639± 0.028 after2.1± 0.10.046± 0.00135.20.188± 0.00721.70.176± 0.00945.80.003± 0.001-0.413± 0.01835.4 Rehmanniae Radix Preparata ( 숙지황 ) 3 before8.3± 0.40.066± 0.0020.026± 0.0020.051± 0.008ND0.143± 0.012 after9.2± 0.20.052± 0.00121.20.020± 0.00323.10.039± 0.00723.5ND-0.111± 0.01122.4 Cinnamon Bark ( 육계 ) 3 before5.5± 0.20.072± 0.0060.409± 0.0170.967± 0.0260.016± 0.0021.464± 0.051 after4.7± 0.40.048± 0.00333.30.260± 0.00536.40.742± 0.02823.30.014± 0.00112.51.064± 0.03727.4 Paeoniae Radix ( 작약 ) 3 before4.7± 0.30.100± 0.0040.070± 0.0010.237± 0.0230.008± 0.0010.415± 0.029 after3.7± 0.20.091± 0.0069.00.068± 0.0022.90.130± 0.00545.10.007± 0.00112.50.296± 0.01428.7 Cnidii Rhizoma ( 천궁 ) 3 before6.6± 0.30.797± 0.0040.094± 0.0022.378± 0.0650.004± 0.0013.273± 0.072 after6.3± 0.20.675± 0.03015.30.077± 0.00218.11.682± 0.10029.30.004± 0.000-2.438± 0.13225.5 Astragali Radix ( 황기 ) 3 before3.1± 0.20.101± 0.0050.024± 0.0020.157± 0.0200.013± 0.0060.295± 0.037 after3.1± 0.10.060± 0.00240.60.019± 0.00020.80.108± 0.02631.20.011± 0.00115.40.123± 0.00758.3 Mean of RD (%) 33.818.535.18.932.5 1) Number of sample 2) After washing once with distilled water (1 min) 3) Rate of decrease (%) 4) Mean of three determination ± standard deviation Table 1. The removal efficiency of heavy metals in herbal ingredients composed of Ssangwha-Tang by washing treatment Fig. 2. Calibration curve of heavy metals As Pb Cd Hg Fig. 3. Comparison of contents of heavy metals between before and after washing in herbal medicines Mix sample Weight 0.5g of sample in microwave vessel Add 12 ㎖ of HNO3 and Overnight Digest at microwave Add 1 ㎖ of H2O2 and Mass up 50 ㎖ with water Analysis by ICP/MS an Calculations Fig. 1. Flow chart for sample preparation in herbal medicine