Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil cadmium (Cd) pollution to the growth and quality of medicinal herbs plant chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and their extracts. The plants were grown in soils contaminated with Cd (3, 6, 12 mgCd/kg) for four weeks. The morphological, physiological, biochemical parameters and the content of Cd in chamomile tissues and infusions were determined. The results of this study showed that soil contamination with Cd had no adverse effect to the aboveground biomass of chamomile, but slightly reduced root biomass. Cd treatment significantly reduced the number of flowers and their dry weight. Cd soil pollution had no significant adverse effect on the content of photosynthetic pigments, though induced lipid peroxidation and an increase in MDA content was recorded. Cadmium concentrations in the plant tissues and extracts increased along with Cd concentration in the soil. It was found that Cd concentrations in chamomile flowers and infusions were above the maximum allowable Cd levels in medicinal plants and drinking water. This study demonstrated that the use of chamomile products may pose a risk to human health even if chamomiles are growing at environmentally relevant Cd soil concentration.
Highlights
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is widely used in various medicinal products for external use and as medicinal tea or refreshment drink
The dry weight of chamomile roots grown in the soil polluted with Cd was by 15-25 % lower than that of control plants
The concentrations above the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) started to induce a reduction in root growth, though did not affect the aboveground biomass growth
Summary
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is widely used in various medicinal products for external use and as medicinal tea or refreshment drink. Medicinal products (teas, drinks, tinctures, etc.) prepared from wild plants are generally considered to be harmless, scientific data show that these plants may contain toxic substances (such as heavy metals, pesticides), if they are grown in a contaminated environment. Metal contamination in the environment can cause adverse effects in biota. Anthropogenic heavy metal emission to the atmosphere is up to several times higher than their emissions from natural sources (Shadid et al, 2017). Industrial discharges, waste disposal in landfills, sewage sludge application, agricultural usage of pesticides and fertilizers are the main sources of Cd soil pollution. Additional sources of cadmium for plants are atmospheric deposition, pesticides and fertilizers that can be assimilated via foliar uptake (Shadid et al, 2017). Photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and translocation in plants, induces oxidative stress (Sandalio et al, 2001, López-Millán et al, 2009) and these adverse effects may result in plant growth or yield reduction
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