Bio Accessibility of 11 Trace Elements in Baizi Yangxin Tablets, a Cinnabar-Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Baizi Yangxin tablets (BZYXTs) were a cinnabar-containing traditional Chinese medicine. Trace elements in BZYXTs, especially Mercury (Hg), mainly in cinnabar species, had potential health risk. The bio accessibility of 11 trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn and Hg) in the BZYXTs was measured to investigate the bioavailability and evaluate the potential risk to human health using In vitro simulated gastric fluid. Total concentration and concentration in extracts from gastric phase were analysed for 11 elements by direct inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis showed that 1 batch of BZYXTs formulated higher amount
of cinnabar than required in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) in their preparations. The bio accessibility of Hg in the BZYXTs was below 1% and the bio accessibility of other 10 elements ranged from 6.36-95.61%. When compared with the most conservative published safety
guideline, only 1 batch of BZYXTs exceeded the prescribed safety range for acceptable Hg intake. The daily intake of other 10 elements was acceptably below published safety limits.