OBJECTIVETo analyze the contents of harmful heavy metals, sulfur and trace elements from Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after sulfur-fumigated process.

METHODSamples were pretreated by wet digestion and then subjected to elements analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

RESULTThe contents of Cu and S elements were increased, while the content of Zn element was decreased in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process compared with the samples dried in the sun. Moreover, heavy metallic elements, such as As and Hg, were detected in Paeoniae Radix Alba after sulfur-fumigated process.

CONCLUSIONSulfur fumigated process may cause residual of heavy metals and sulfur which are harmful to human body and change the contents of some trace elements.

Fumigation ; methods ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods ; Sulfur ; analysis ; metabolism ; Trace Elements ; analysis