Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Selected Medicinal Plants for Treatment of Typhoid in Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria

Typhoid fever is a prevalent ailment around the globe, especially in developing countries like Africa and Asia. Majority of people in this region depend on herbs for treatment. Concerns have, however, been raised regarding herbal contamination from potentially toxic elements (PTEs). This study analysed the concentration of five potentially toxic elements, Cu, Cd, Fe, Pd, and Zn in eight commonly used anti-typhoid medicinal plants in Ijagun, Ogun State. Their associated health risk was also assessed. The concentration of the metals was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), and their health risk was assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) calculations. Fe was the most abundant element in the plant, with M. indica containing the highest concentration (81.01 mg/kg), while cadmium had the lowest concentration in all samples analysed. The health risk assessment showed that all the plant samples screened had HI values <1 (0.0111 to 0.0498), indicating no significant health risks associated with their use as alternative medicine. The varying HI values, however, suggest different safety margins among the plants. The findings of this work provide a reassurance of the general safety of the selected anti-typhoid plants, however, continuous monitoring of the PTE concentration in medicinal plants is required to prevent heath implication due to bioaccumulation from long-term exposure.