Heavy Metal Analysis of Seabuckthorn Leaf Extract

Seabuckthorn [SBT, Hippophae rhamnoides L.] is a very popular plant of high altitude cold desert areas having tremendous medicinal properties and well reviewed in Chinese and Tibetan literature. 75% ethanolic extract of SBT leaves has already been reported to possess many pharmacological activities but there are no reports on heavy metal analysis of this extract. The present study was undertaken to analyze the heavy metal content of this extract with respect to Big Four heavy metals As, Pb, Hg and Cd using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry [ICP-MS]. The findings of this study was compared with prescribed limits of these metals in WHO guidelines and the content of all these heavy metals were found to be within safe limits. These findings indicate that 75% ethanolic SBT leaf extract is safe from the point of view of heavy metal toxicity and being a good source of antioxidants this extract have the possibilities to be used in combination therapy along with a good chelating agents for reversal of heavy metal toxicities.