Residues in Selected Medicinal Plants and Their Implications for Public Health: A Review
1
Department of Agriculture, Public Sector, Queenstown, South Africa
2
Döhne Agricultural Development Institute, Research, Stutterheim, South Africa
3
University of South Africa, University, Johannesburg, South Africa
4
Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal,, University, Petermaritzburg, South Africa
5
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Research Services, Public Sector, Potchefstroom, South Africa
6
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, University, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1972
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Traditional medicinal plants play a vital role in primary healthcare, especially where smallholder and rural farming is practised. Medicinal services are often inaccessible to the farming community due to a combination of geographical, financial, infrastructural, and social factors. Although medicinal plants are generally considered safe because they are natural origin and have been used for centuries or even millennia, growing scientific data indicate that some of these plants contain toxic phytochemicals and residue of environmental contaminants which can be a public health hazard. This study aimed to assess documented residues in selected medicinal plants commonly used and their potential in affecting human health.
METHODS:
A survey of peer reviewed literature, analyses of secondary phytochemical and residue data, and synthesis of community-based knowledge are recorded in previous ethnobotanical studies. Both internal hazardous substances and exterior contamination from environmental and agricultural sources are the main topic of the review.
RESULTS:
Several toxic and poisonous phytochemicals were identified, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, aristolochic acids, cyanogenic gylcosides, and cardiac glycosides. When ingested at unsafe levels, these compounds are linked to negative health outcomes like liver damage, renal failure, cardiac toxicity, and acute poisoning. Furthermore, reports of pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metal (lead, mercury, and arsenic) residues were common, especially in plants that were collected from contaminated soils, roadside, or stored under poor conditions. The results show a gap between traditional knowledge and scientific data the dangers regarding residue related risks. Even though medicinal plants significantly improve health and livelihoods, uncontrolled usage and lack of knowledge about contamination pathways make the public health more vulnerable.
CONCLUSIONS:
Better integration of traditional practices with scientific risk assessment is crucial to safeguard public health.
Traditional medicinal plants play a vital role in primary healthcare, especially where smallholder and rural farming is practised. Medicinal services are often inaccessible to the farming community due to a combination of geographical, financial, infrastructural, and social factors. Although medicinal plants are generally considered safe because they are natural origin and have been used for centuries or even millennia, growing scientific data indicate that some of these plants contain toxic phytochemicals and residue of environmental contaminants which can be a public health hazard. This study aimed to assess documented residues in selected medicinal plants commonly used and their potential in affecting human health.
METHODS:
A survey of peer reviewed literature, analyses of secondary phytochemical and residue data, and synthesis of community-based knowledge are recorded in previous ethnobotanical studies. Both internal hazardous substances and exterior contamination from environmental and agricultural sources are the main topic of the review.
RESULTS:
Several toxic and poisonous phytochemicals were identified, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, aristolochic acids, cyanogenic gylcosides, and cardiac glycosides. When ingested at unsafe levels, these compounds are linked to negative health outcomes like liver damage, renal failure, cardiac toxicity, and acute poisoning. Furthermore, reports of pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metal (lead, mercury, and arsenic) residues were common, especially in plants that were collected from contaminated soils, roadside, or stored under poor conditions. The results show a gap between traditional knowledge and scientific data the dangers regarding residue related risks. Even though medicinal plants significantly improve health and livelihoods, uncontrolled usage and lack of knowledge about contamination pathways make the public health more vulnerable.
CONCLUSIONS:
Better integration of traditional practices with scientific risk assessment is crucial to safeguard public health.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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