Application of Realgar in Chinese Patent Medicine and Arsenic Dissolution
- VernacularTitle:国产中成药中雄黄应用及其溶出量的研究
- Author:
Yi ZHENG
;
Yuanyuan XU
;
Huihui WANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Arsenic;
Realgar;
Diarsendisulfid;
Inorganic arsenic;
Cold trap hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
- From:
Journal of Environment and Health
2007;0(12):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the present status of Chinese patent medicine with realgar (As2S2) and to research arsenic dissolution in different pH values. Methods Data on the amount of Chinese patent medicine with realgar, the content of realgar, the method of taking medicine and so on were collected from the Chinese traditional medicine protection and criterions issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health in 2005, and evaluated the using status of Chinese patent medicine with realgar. The realgar powder was dissolved in solutions at different pH values (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) in 37℃ water for 4 h, respectively, then arsenic was determined with cold trap hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry to calculate the amount of dissolved arsenic. Results One hundred and twenty-one (3.13%) realgar medicaments were recorded in a total of 3 860 various Chinese patent medicaments, including 74 medicaments with both realgar and cinnabar (HgS) . Of all medicaments with realgar, 97 medicaments (80.17%) were for oral application, 10 medicaments (8.26%) were for external application, and 14 medicaments (11.57%) were for both oral and external application. 45 medicaments with realgar (1.17%) could be used in children; 108 medicaments with realgar (89.26%) contained arsenic 15%; The relative amount of arsenic in medicaments with realgar was from 0.46% to 27.52%. Daily intake of arsenic was 500 mg for 11 medicaments (9.09%). Only inorganic arsenic (iAs) was detected when 1 mg realgar was dissolved in solution with pH values of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. The levels of dissolved iAs seemed increased with the pH values, which were 1.58 ?g, 1.24 ?g, 1.57 ?g, 1.62 ?g, 2.28 ?g and 4.76 ?g, respectively. Conclusion Considering the common use of realgar in Chinese patent medicine and the high level of arsenic in realgar, the potential danger can not be ignored. It is possible that arsenic in realgar may be much easier to be absorbed in intestine than in stomach.
