Herbal Decoctions for the Levels of Sulfur Dioxide, Benzopyrene, and Mycotoxin from Traditional Korean Medicine Clinics: A Preliminary Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 20;19(20):13595. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013595.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated whether the levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2), benzopyrene, and mycotoxins in herbal decoctions in Korea in 2019 were within normal limits. In total, 30 decoctions composed of multi-ingredient traditional herbs were sampled from traditional Korean medicine (TKM) clinics, TKM hospitals, and external herbal dispensaries in 2019. The decoctions were analyzed for SO2, benzopyrene, and mycotoxins using 10 samples. SO2 and benzopyrene were not detected in any of the herbal decoctions. With regard to mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 was not detected, but B2 was detected in 7 cases (0.00~0.04 ppb), G1 in 13 cases (0.03~0.29 ppb), and G2 in 9 cases (0.02~0.93 ppb). None of these values exceeded the restrictions in prior studies. Thus, we confirm that the amounts of SO2, benzopyrene, and mycotoxins in herbal decoctions are at safe levels and provides the basis of establishing safety management criteria for herbal decoctions.

Keywords: benzopyrene; herbal decoction; mycotoxin; quality control; safety management standard; sulfur dioxide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxins*
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • Benzopyrenes
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Mycotoxins*
  • Sulfur Dioxide

Substances

  • Mycotoxins
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Benzopyrenes
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • Aflatoxins

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Project of National Development Institute of Korean Medicine, Accreditation of External Herbal Dispensaries of Traditional Korean Medicine Clinics, funded by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.