Cancer-Causing Substance Found in Oriental Medicine

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Cancer-Causing Substance Found in Oriental Medicine

South Korea*

By Kim Rahn

Staff Reporter

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/04/117_22135.html

A cancer-causing mycotoxin has been found in some ingredients used

in Oriental medicines, according to the Korea Food and Drug

Administration.

An administration official said Tuesday that an investigation showed

2.42 percent of herbs and other ingredients used in Oriental

medicine on the market had quantities of aflatoxin, one of the most

harmful mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins, produced by mold, can cause disease and potentially

interfere with normal organ function in humans or animals. Aflatoxin

is categorized as a carcinogenic by the International Agency for

Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization, and can

cause cirrhosis and cancer of the liver if taken for a prolonged

period.

The investigation was conducted on 700 samples of 70 kinds of

Oriental medicine ingredients from herb markets in the nation's

major cities last June and July. Among them, 18 samples contained

the toxin.

It was also found that 4.9 percent of the 700 samples, or 34, were

contaminated with more than 100,000 parts per gram (ppg) of mold.

``Such herbs can gather mold as they are natural substances. Mold

itself may not be harmful, but in significant quantities it can

produce carcinogenic mycotoxins,'' the official said.

The administration has set a permissible limit of aflatoxin B1, a

very potent carcinogen, at 10 parts per billion (ppb), beginning

Tuesday. Aflatoxin levels in six samples among the 700 were over the

limit. The official said the number of tainted samples decreased

from 19 the year before.

Ground apricot stones contained relatively higher levels of

aflatoxin B1, up to 97.62 ppb.

``We need to strengthen regulations on apricot stones, which showed

high contamination levels on average,'' the official said.

Following the study and new rule, the Association of Korean Oriental

Medicine has recently sent its members guidelines regarding

ingredient storage and distribution.

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