Abstract
Sempervivumtectorum L. is an evergreen plant with fleshy blue-green leaves forming a rosette. The plant is well-known in alternative medicine and has been used for thousands of years. Traditionally for medicinal purposes, the plant is used as a juice obtained by simple squeezing of fresh plants leaves. The total content of Ca, K, Na, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Al, V, Cr, Ni, Mo, Ba, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Tl in plant leaves of Sempervivum tectorum L. sampled from different habitats in Bulgaria was determined after microwave digestion and measurements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, the bioavailable fraction of essential elements Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn was defined after extraction with a hydrochloric acid solution, mimicking stomach juice. The total element content showed a high bioavailability of essential human health elements, such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. Additionally, essential and toxic elements concentrations were quantified in a fresh juice, obtained by squeezing from plant leaves, as most frequently used in folk medicine. The results obtained demonstrated high concentrations of K, Mg, Ca, Zn, and Cu, which could be accepted as an explanation and a further confirmation of the anti-inflammatory action of this plant.
Highlights
IntroductionBulgarian herbs contain a high percentage of biologically active substances [1]
The total content of essential elements presented at lower concentration levels in Sempervivum tectorum L. is close to the content of these elements in other herbs from these regions [15,16]
The total element contents and the bioavailable fraction of essential elements Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, and Fe were determined in leaves of Sempervivum tectorum L
Summary
Bulgarian herbs contain a high percentage of biologically active substances [1]. They are rich in various chemical compounds: alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, polysaccharides, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, essential oils, vitamins, and trace elements. The pharmacological and medicinal action and application of Bulgarian herbs has been an important topic and subject of many studies. One of the most outstanding achievements of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry was the creation of the medicinal preparation “Nivalin” by Prof. The active substance of which is the alkaloid galantamine, extracted from Leucojum aestivum L. Most of the achievements of contemporary medical science are based on bioactive compounds extracted from medicinal plants [3]
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