Evaluation of Major and Trace Elements in Medicinal Plants

Abstract

This study presents the elemental concentration results obtained from 59 medicinal plants used in Brazil, determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS). The selected plant species were chosen from the Brazilian National Agency for Sanitary Vigilance (ANVISA) list of herbs recommended for utilization by the Public System of Health in Brazil (SUS). The results showed that high levels of foreign matter were found in almost 50% of the analyzed samples. The concentration of the elements varied in a wide range, although, generally in accordance with values found in literature. High concentrations of Ba, Cr, Fe, Hg, Se and Ni were found in some samples. The enrichment factor indicated that potentially hazardous elements can be accumulated mainly in the bark of the plants, possibly indicating an anthropogenic contribution.

Elemental Characterization of Medicinal Plants and Soils from Hazarganji Chiltan National Park and Nearby Unprotected Areas of Balochistan, Pakistan

“…Although for medicinal plants the limit is not established yet, it is noteworthy to explore the levels of Mn in medicinal plants as these are consumed by most of the poor rural communities in developing countries. The results obtained in this work agreed with the results previously reported in the literature 8,47 in fact, relatively higher levels of Mn were observed by other researchers in medicinal plants 31,57 and comparatively low concentrations were documented in some medicinal plants 28,44,58 . For soils, Mn concentration was 510 mg/kg in samples collected in protected sites and 420 mg/kg in samples collected in unprotected ones Table 3 .…”

“…In unprotected sites, a concentration range of 25,020 mg/kg Hertia intermedia to 13,700 mg/ kg Perovskia atriplicifolia was measured Table 5 . Similar concentration ranges were reported in other medicinal plants 28,31,37 . Low and extremely high Ca concentration were, also, reported in Pakistani medicinal plants 33,34 .…”

“…Plants from unprotected sites showed values of Zn of 174.50 mg/kg for Achillea wilhelmsii and 23.20 mg/kg for Seriphidium quettense Table 5 . Relatively higher concentrations of Zn were found in plant samples when compared to the results of other medicinal plants 8,27,28,31,33,34,37,46,47,51,53,58 . The permissible limit of Zn in edible plants was set at 27.40 mg/kg 52 .…”

Beneficial effect of Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae) upon inflammatory response induced by carrageenan into the mice pleural cavity

“…It is an annual branching herb that grows to approximately 1 m in height (Okunade, 2002;Singh et al, 2013). In Brazil, the infusion preparation of A. conyzoides L leaves (2-3 g in 150 mL of water two to three times daily) are used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents (Okunade, 2002;Silva et al, 2016;Singh et al, 2013). Aversi-Ferreira et al, (2013) have reported the use of this herb as a traditional medicine in Brazil.…”

Trace Elements in Leaf Extracts of Eucalyptus grandis Traditionally Used to Treat Common Cold and Flu

“…However, plants can accumulate potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) from the environment 3. Many plants, including eucalyptus, are used to prepare TMRs for the treatment of common cold and flu 4,5. The leaves of eucalyptus have antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, along with antioxidative properties 6…”