Chemical profiling and safety evaluation of herbal eye cleansers marketed in Nigeria

Herbal eye cleansers are widely used in traditional medicine to relieve ocular irritation and infections, yet their scientific validation remains limited. This study examined the phytochemical composition, GC–MS profile, antioxidant potential, and heavy metal contamination of selected herbal remedies to evaluate both efficacy and safety. Phytochemical screening identified glycosides, saponins, tannins, proteins, and alkaloids, while flavonoids and terpenoids were absent. GC–MS profiling revealed compounds such as benzoic acid, squalene, esters, and phthalates, indicating both therapeutic constituents and possible contamination. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Remedy 1 showed strong concentration-dependent activity, achieving 96.8% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, whereas Remedy 2 displayed moderate activity, plateauing at 50.1% inhibition. Heavy metal analysis revealed high levels of arsenic and cadmium, far exceeding provisional tolerable daily intake values. Risk assessment confirmed arsenic as the dominant contributor to both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic hazards, with carcinogenic risk values several orders of magnitude above the acceptable threshold. Copper and lead were within safe limits, and mercury was absent, but these findings did not offset the severe risks posed by arsenic and cadmium. Overall, the study demonstrates that while herbal eye cleansers contain bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic relevance, their safety is critically undermined by heavy metal contamination. Arsenic and cadmium pose unacceptable health risks, overshadowing potential benefits. Regulatory oversight, strict quality control, and public health education are urgently required to ensure consumer safety and protect populations relying on traditional ocular remedies.