Study of the Elemental Composition of Laminariae thalli

Okwume C.C.; Rodin M.N.; Bokov D.O.; Gravel I.V.

doi:10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00497

Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

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0974-360X (Online)
0974-3618 (Print)

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Study of the Elemental Composition of Laminariae thalli

Author(s): Okwume C.C., Rodin M.N., Bokov D.O., Gravel I.V.

Email(s): rodin_m_n@staff.sechenov.ru

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00497

Address: Okwume C.C.1, Rodin M.N.1*, Bokov D.O.1,2, Gravel I.V.1
1Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8 Trubetskaya St., bldg. 2, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
2Federal Research Center of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, 2/14 Ustyinsky pr., Moscow, 109240, Russian Federation.
*Corresponding Author

Published In: Volume - 19, Issue - 8, Year - 2026

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ABSTRACT:
Seaweed is widely valued for its rich nutrient profile, offering essential minerals, antioxidants, polysaccharides, and other biologically active compounds. However, due to environmental contamination, seaweeds, particularly brown varieties (Laminariae thalli), can accumulate harmful heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, which are associated with severe health risks such as carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and oxidative stress. Identifying heavy metals and arsenic in seaweed is crucial due to their bioaccumulation potential and toxicological risks. Therefore, our goal was to study the elemental composition of Laminariae thalli to determine how many substances enter the human body and what risks are associated with this. Objects of the study were herbal medicinal products of Laminariae thalli purchased from the pharmacy chain. The ICP-MS method was used to estimate the content of minerals, including heavy metals and arsenic in Laminariae thalli. Among the macronutrients of Laminariae thalli, calcium and magnesium showed the highest concentration. Microelements analysis revealed that strontium was the dominant representative, followed by iron and boron. The other microelements-aluminum, zinc, manganese and copper, were present in lower concentrations. In the group of ultra-microelements, the highest values were recorded for tellurium and followed by barium, nickel, vanadium, lithium, palladium and chromium in order of decreasing concentration. The remaining elements (silver, selenium, molybdenum, cobalt, gallium and beryllium) were found in even lower concentrations. In the studied samples there were no more than 0,011±0,002mg/kg lead, 0,012±0,001mg/kg mercury, 0,006±0,001mg/kg cadmium, 1,25±0,011mg/kg of arsenic. According to State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation XV edition all values of heavy metals and arsenic are within the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) range, including arsenic content. The risk level for carcinogens is acceptable. The arsenic daily intake from one teaspoon is close to the risk threshold values, so that the content of arsenic in Laminariae thalli herbal medicinal products may pose a significant risk and should be noted during quality control. It was established, that heavy metals are within acceptable safety limits.

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Cite this article:
Okwume C.C., Rodin M.N., Bokov D.O., Gravel I.V.. Study of the Elemental Composition of Laminariae thalli. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3505-2. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00497

Cite(Electronic):
Okwume C.C., Rodin M.N., Bokov D.O., Gravel I.V.. Study of the Elemental Composition of Laminariae thalli. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(8):3505-2. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00497 Available on: https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-8-14

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