Comprehensive assessment for species authenticity, pesticide residual, and fungal contamination characteristics of Panax herbal tea

Adulteration, pesticide residues, and fungal contamination are the three key factors affecting herbal medicine safety. Herbal tea is a healthy beverage containing bioactive molecules and is one of the derivatives of medicine food homology herbal medicine. However, these three factors are often ignored in the herbal tea industry. In this study, 171 commercially available Panax herbal tea products were tested. The findings revealed that the target Panax ingredient in the herbal tea products was adulterated by Platycodon grandiflorum or the mixed-using of Panax genus species, with an adulteration rate of 25.1%. The pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) pesticide residue rate was 78.4% in the 171 Panax herbal tea products. Two samples demonstrated obvious fungal contamination. Among the 171 Panax herbal teas, 98 samples were qualified with the correct species, qualified pesticide residues, and no fungal contamination (eyeballing). The present investigation not only sheds light on the three key factors exerting a significant impact on herbal tea safety but also provides a reference for the comprehensive evaluation of herbal tea, thereby facilitating the development of this industry. • Adulteration, pesticide residue, and fungal pollution affect herbal tea safety. • The 25.1% adulteration rate was detected in 171 Panax herbal tea products. • The PCNB pesticide residue rate was 78.4% in the 171 Panax herbal tea products. • Fungal contamination was found in two of 171 Panax herbal tea products. • The comprehensive evaluation of herbal tea will facilitate its development.