Abstract
Both essential and heavy metals play important roles in human health and diseases. The aim of the present study was to determinate concentrations of essential and heavy metals, such as Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe, Pb, Zn, and Cd, in the leaves of Mentha longifolia L. and Mentha × piperita L. The plant material samples were collected from six different locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), at selected distances from heavy metal pollution sources. Wet digestion was applied for the dissolution of samples and essential and heavy metals concentrations were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and (FAAS). Results of the analysis (expressed as mg g–1) were obtained as follows: Na 2.08–4.12; K 14.85–22.54; Ca 9.06–15.53; Mg 1.93–3.12; Cu 0.01–0.05; Cr 0.70–0.90; Mn 0.02–0.09; Ni 1.10–7.00; Fe 0.06–1.11; Pb 0.10–0.90; Zn 0.01–0.04. The cadmium concentration in all samples was below the detection limit by FAAS. Strong correlation between Ni and Pb, as well as Ni and Fe, confirmed mostly environmental and processing influence/impact. In conclusion, Mentha longifolia L. and Mentha × piperita L. can be used in daily consumption considering the high content of essential metals Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn, and their beneficial effects on normal body function. In addition, there is no risk of heavy metals to human health after consuming these samples due to lower concentrations.
Highlights
Medicinal plants are commonly used in traditional medicine as the raw material for many herbal formulations
The content of micro- and macro-elements as well as of some heavy metals was determined in two Mentha species – wild and cultivated – using flame atomic absorption spectrometry
Content of essential and heavy metals was determined in two Mentha species, Mentha longifolia L. and Mentha × piperita L. from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), collected at six different locations
Summary
Medicinal plants are commonly used in traditional medicine as the raw material for many herbal formulations. Essential metals as micro- and macro-elements (Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, Mn, K, Na, Mg, and Ca) are needed at low concentrations for normal functioning of enzyme systems, formation of haemoglobin, synthesis of vitamins, and for growth, development and photosynthesis in plants.[1,2] On the other hand, toxic elements, such as Pb, Cd, and Ni, are not necessary to the human body and may cause severe consequences to human health.[3,4,5,6,7] In B&H, Mentha species have been used as tea in traditional medicine since ancient times, as well as in different herb formulations as ingredients for making creams, perfumes, soaps, etc. Correlation analysis of the total elements content in wild and cultivated Mentha samples was performed, with respect to their element composition as the impact of environmental and other factors
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