Determination of Heavy Metals, Arsenic, and Aluminum Content in Pumpkin Seed Herbal Substance and Native Products, by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Pumpkin seeds belong to the so-called native products. Their characteristic feature is that they can be consumed directly, without prior extraction of starting material. All elemental toxicants contained in pumpkin are transferred full product. Therefore, it important study specific aspects toxicant accumulation by seeds. The aim was determine content heavy metals, As, and Al seed herbal substance products, assess degree these elements, depending on vegetation area. Materials methods : evaluated products Russian manufacturers as well harvested areas with different anthropogenic load. sample preparation performed microwave digestion, determination perfomed inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results were shown contain essential, probably potentially toxic, toxic elements. authors comparative analysis composition seeds, grains, beans various oil-bearing, grain, leguminous crops. Conclusions specified (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) tested samples medicinal did not exceed limits established Pharmacopoeia. unspecified elements either absent (Tl) or found trace amounts (Al). a number essential (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cr) higher than many oil-bearing area had no significant influence capable accumulating abnormally high Co, Ni environmental pollution.