Planta Med 2015; 81 - PG18
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556249

Heavy metals in Bacopa ingredients collected from the market in Europe, India and the Unites States

MHM Sharaf 1, A Blank 2, B Podhola 2
  • 1American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, MD 20910
  • 2Nature's Way Brands, Green Bay, WI 54311, USA

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) is a creeping, prostrate, somewhat succulent perennial that grows in moist environments. Bacopa is an important plant in the traditional Indian systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani). Traditionally, the entire plant is used as a brain tonic to enhance memory, development, learning ability, and concentration. Bacopa is gaining popularity worldwide and is classified as dietary ingredient under the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

Bacopa has also been recommended as an agent for phytoremediation because of its ability to accumulate heavy metals from contaminated soils. Concerns were raised following a 2013 article published in Planta Medica that claimed elevated levels of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in all tested bacopa plant samples collected from peri-urban areas in India.

We analyzed 75 samples of bacopa plant material and extracts acquired from 14 companies in Europe, India, and the United States. This presentation will summarize the results of this market study, which refute the results of the 2013 article.