Defluoridation potential of indigenous thirst-quenching herbal products commonly used in Kerala, India

Background: Drinking fluoride-contaminated water is a severe health hazard problem. Fluorosis -both skeletal and dental- is an important clinical and public health problem in about ۲۴ countries including India. The best method to overcome the problem of excess fluoride in drinking water is defluoridation. Adsorption methods are simple, economical, and globally pursued techniques. Thirst-quenching herbal products locally called ‘Dahashamini’ are plant parts that are used during boiling drinking water. Possessing a defluoridation potential is an added benefit. Methods: Two grams of each of dried and ground Zingiber officinale, Elettaria cardamomum, Eugenia caryophyllus, Coriandrum sativum, Acacia catechu, Caesalpinia sapans, Vetiveria zizanioides, Cuminum cyminum, and Hemidesmus indicus, were added to ۱۰۰ millilitres of fluoridated water of baseline concentrations of ۵ and ۱۰ ppm, boiled till its boiling point, and cooled. The samples were then filtered and analyzed for fluoride content using fluoride ion specific electrode method. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for pair-wise comparison. Results: Caesalpinia sapans, Vetiveria zizanioides, Acacia catechu, Eugenia caryophyllus, and Coriandrum sativum, had a significant ability to adsorb fluoride from fluoridated water, with an efficiency ranging from ۱۲% to ۵۶% (at a baseline concentration of ۱۰ ppm) and ۱۹% to ۸۲% (at a baseline concentration of ۵ ppm). Conclusion: The study indicates the possibility of the use of five ingredients in developing a costeffective and acceptable method of defluoridation based on the adsorption method.

Keywords:

Fluoride , Vetiveria , Acacia , Eugenia , Elettaria