The study on the elemental composition of the feverfew herb (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz bip.)

Abstract

Macro- and microelements affect the vital functions of plants; they are an integral part of the medicinal plant raw material and play a significant role in the pharmacological activity of herbal medicines. Expediency of determination of the heavy metals content is stipulated by the requirements to the raw material. Within the standardization of the feverfew raw material batches the comparative study of the elemental composition of the herb depending on the regions of the raw material collection has been conducted. Aim. To analyze the degree of accumulation of macro- and microelements of the feverfew herb collected in 7 regions of Ukraine. Materials and methods. The study object was batches of the feverfew herb collected in 7 regions of Ukraine. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of the elements were determined using the atomic emission spectroscopy method at the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of Functional Materials and Environmental Objects of the STC “Institute for Single Crystals”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkiv) using a CAS-120 device, manufacturing group “Electron” by atomization in air-acetylene flame. Results and discussion. As a result of the study conducted 18 elements were identified in all batches of the raw material. The prevailing content of potassium was identified in the samples from the Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Poltava regions. The calcium content prevailed in the samples from the Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions. The greatest content of silicon and magnesium was identified in the samples from the Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions. Nickel, molybdenum and lead were in the least quantity among the microelements in the feverfew herb. The content of cobalt, cadmium, arsenic and mercury was within the maximum permissible limits. Conclusions. For the first time the study of the mineral composition of samples of the feverfew herb from different regions of Ukraine was carried out using the atomic emission spectroscopy. The studies conducted indicate that the content of potassium, calcium, silicon and magnesium prevails in all samples of the raw material.