[Analysis of harmful heavy metals, sulfur and main trace elements from Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after sulfur-fumigated process by ICP-AES method].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the contents of harmful heavy metals, sulfur and trace elements from Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after sulfur-fumigated process.


METHODS
Samples were pretreated by wet digestion and then subjected to elements analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).


RESULTS
The contents of Cu and S elements were increased, while the content of Zn element was decreased in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process compared with the samples dried in the sun. Moreover, heavy metallic elements, such as As and Hg, were detected in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process.


CONCLUSIONS
Sulfur fumigated process may cause residual of heavy metals and sulfur which are harmful to human body and change the contents of some trace elements.
College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China. jingjing_12_5@163.com
Jingjing
J
Liu
Hao
H
Cai
Xiao
X
Liu
Xiaoqing
X
Ma
Songlin
S
Li
Duqiang
D
Zong
Baochang
B
Cai
D005651:Fumigation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D013455:Sulfur