Content Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Various Organs of Panax notoginseng

Objective The study aimed to explore the content characteristics and transport rules of Cu, Cr, Cd and Pb in organs of Panax notoginseng from different producing areas, and to evaluate the safety of P. notoginseng root tubers to human health.

Method 43 samples of P. notoginseng were collected from Nanxiong of Guangdong, Jingxi of Guangxi, Wenshan of Yunnan and New Extension area of Yunnan. The contents of Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu in stems and leaves, reed heads, tubers, tendons and fibrous roots of P. notoginseng were determined by ICP-MS.

Result The contents of four heavy metal elements in stem, leaf, reed head and fibrous root ranked as follows: Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd; while those in tuber and tendon ranked as follows: Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd. Four heavy metals in the underground part of various organs of P. notoginseng were higher than those in the aboveground part, and the heavy metals were mostly concentrated in fibrous root of the underground part. According to the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there were excessive heavy metals in different organs of P. notoginseng to different degree, and the over-standard degree of heavy metal elements ranked as follows: Cr > Pb > Cd > Cu. The over-standard rate of each organ of Panax notoginseng was fibrous root > reed head > stem and leaf > tuber > tendon. The average transport capacity of four heavy metals from underground parts to stems and leaves was as follows: Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd. The intake risks of Cu, Cr, Cd and Pb in P. notoginseng roots from different origins to the human body were 0.37%, 46.69%, 3.80% and 5.23%, respectively. Among them, Cr element had higher health risks, therefore, the control of Cr intake risk should be strengthen.

Conclusion The study results can provide a theoretical basis for the characteristics of heavy metal accumulation, health and safety evaluation and selection of suitable planting areas of P. notoginseng.