Quantitative analysis of heavy metals in medicinal plants collected from environmentally diverse locations in India for use in a novel phytopharmaceutical product Ananya Sadhu & Prabhat Upadhyay & Praveen K. Singh & Aruna Agrawal & Kaliappan Ilango & Dipankar Karmakar & Gur Prit Inder Singh & Govind Prasad Dubey Received: 9 February 2015 /Accepted: 20 July 2015 # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 Abstract It is important to monitor the quality of the phytopharmaceutical product as its therapeutic potential depends on standardized delivery of active ingredients present in the botanical source. Minimal presence of toxic impurities like heavy metals (HMs) is warranted to ensure product safety and prevent hazardous health impacts. In the present study, conducted as part of the development of a novel phytopharmaceutical product, the chemical profile of 13 heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Mo, V, Cr, As, Pb, Hg, and Cd) was studied in the whole plant, fruit, and rhizome of Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Dioscorea bulbifera, respectively, from environmentally diverse regions in India. Most samples had HM profiles within permissible limits as established by regulatory authori- ties, with the exception of Cd and Hg in low-altitude regions. This study indicates geographical regions in India suitable for procuring raw materials to develop and manufacture phytopharmaceutical products. Keywords Phytopharmaceutical product . Heavy metals . Environmental pollution . Medicinal plants . AAS Introduction Phytopharmaceutical products have been extensively used for medicinal purposes from time immemorial (Schulz et al. 2004). Researchers estimate that the use of medicinal plants dates back to the Palaeolithic era, nearly 60,000 years ago. It is well known that a number of ancient cultures in countries such as India, Egypt, Greece, and China utilized the medicinal properties of plants for different methods of healing and treatment. It has been estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that 80 % of the population in developing countries presently use herbal medicine to meet their primary health care needs (Bennerman et al. 1983; Re- port of the Task Force on Conservation and Sustainable use of Medicinal Plants 2000). Studies show that in India more than 25,000 plant-based formulations are described in the indigenous medical texts (Gupta et al. Environ Monit Assess (2015) 187:542 DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4764-3 A. Sadhu (*) : P. Upadhyay : P. K. Singh : G. P. Dubey Collaborative Program, Institute of Medical Science, BHU, Varanasi, India e-mail: ananya.s.84@gmail.com P. Upadhyay Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacology, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India A. Agrawal : G. P. Dubey Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India K. Ilango Interdisciplinary School of Indian System of Medicine (ISISM), SRM University, Kattankulathur 603203, India P. K. Singh : D. Karmakar Arvind Remedies Ltd, 190, Poonamallee high road, Aminjikarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600084, India G. P. I. Singh Adesh University, Barnala Road, Bathinda, Punjab