Comparative Study of Heavy Metals in Selected Medicinal Plants and Extracts, Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

Abstract

The use of plants has grown constantly worldwide, being a rich source of compounds that serve as established treatments for various diseases and conditions. This paper discusses the elemental composition and the level of environmental risk of heavy metals of selected medicinal plants. The extracts are investigated by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, a non-destructive, fast, multi-element, highly accurate and environmentally friendly analysis compared to other elementary detection methods. The studied plants Croton dioicus and Phoradendron villosum are native to Mexico. Both showed high levels of Cu and Ni, while their extracts present levels within the permissible range.

Special Issue on “Heavy Metal Toxicity: Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment”

“…Sánchez Lara et al [3] discussed the elemental composition and the level of environmental risk of heavy metals of selected medicinal plants. The extracts of these plants were investigated using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and the studied plants were Croton dioicus and Phoradendron villosum, native to Mexico.…”