%A Kan,Winnie %A Ma,Bin %A Lin,Ge %D 2011 %J Frontiers in Pharmacology %C %F %G English %K pharmacokinetic alteration,sulphur fumigation,sulphur fumigation-induced chemical alteration,TCM herb processing,toxicity of sulphiting agent,toxicity of sulphur dioxide %Q %R 10.3389/fphar.2011.00084 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2011-December-27 %9 Hypothesis and Theory %+ Prof Ge Lin,The Chinese University of Hong Kong,School of Biomedical Sciences,Shatin, N.T.,Hong Kong, SAR China,linge@cuhk.edu.hk %# %! Sulphur fumigation processing of herbs %* %< %T Sulfur Fumigation Processing of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Beneficial or Detrimental? %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2011.00084 %V 2 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1663-9812 %X Majority of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs need to undergo post-harvesting processing to convert raw material into the form readily used for prescription. In general, processing procedures are either according to China Pharmacopeia or based on traditional methods. Recently sulfur fumigation is increasingly used to replace traditional sun-drying for its pesticidal and anti-bacterial properties in a cheap and convenient manner. However, to date information on effects of sulfur fumigation on herbal safety and efficacy are limited. This article addresses potential destructive effects of sulfur fumigation on herbal efficacy and safety through reviewing currently available information. Since recently increased numbers of studies have demonstrated that sulfur fumigation-induced dramatic changes in chemical profiles of various sulfur-fumigated herbs, consequent alteration of efficacy, and/or potential incidence of toxicity are suspected. Therefore comprehensive investigations on effects of sulfur fumigation on toxicity, chemical profiles, pharmacokinetics, and bioactivities of TCM herbs are timely to provide scientific basis for standardization and regulation of this currently common but potentially harmful processing method.