Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, 31040, Hatay, Turkey.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722, Istanbul, Turkey.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020 Sep;197(1):316-329. doi: 10.1007/s12011-019-01974-2. Epub 2019 Nov 22.
Medicinal plants have been used for treatment of many diseases since the ancient times with traditional knowledge being transferred from generation to generation. However, in recent years, many natural habitats have been contaminated due to increased anthropogenic activities. Plants which are exposed to heavy metal toxicity may experience several serious problems. Furthermore, the inclusion of these plants into the food chain poses a threat to human health as well. Additionally, presence of heavy metals directly effect mineral nutrition and consequently the food quality. The aim of this study herewith is to determine the heavy metal content and mineral nutrient status of some medicinal plants to have insight on their health repercussions on plants and humans. The concentrations of Al, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in commonly used parts (root, rhizome, seed, resin, gall, fruit) especially for remedial purposes of 17 medicinal plants collected from Turkey were analyzed by ICP-OES. The measured values for concentrations from lowest to highest were (in mg kg) 30.983-368.877 for Al, 13.845-186.015 for B, 1335.699-11213.951 for Ca, 0.016-0.653 for Cd, 0.379-30.708 for Cr, 23.838-90.444 for Cu, 78.960-1228.845 for Fe, 1035.948-6393.491 for K, 83.193-2252.031 for Mg, 12.111-362.570 for Mn, 278.464-1968.775 for Na, 1.945-35.732 for Ni, 0.796-17.162 for Pb and 166.910-395.252 for Zn. Overall, heavy metal concentrations in medicinal plants collected nearby industrial regions, mining and farming sites, were found to be in slightly higher levels. This shows us that it is of crucial importance that the areas where medicinal plants are collected are clean especially by means of heavy metals for the reason that these plants can cause more harm than the benefits they may provide if they are contaminated.
药用植物自古以来就被用于治疗许多疾病，传统知识代代相传。然而，近年来，由于人为活动的增加，许多自然栖息地受到了污染。暴露在重金属毒性下的植物可能会遇到一些严重的问题。此外，这些植物被纳入食物链也会对人类健康构成威胁。此外，重金属的存在直接影响矿物质营养，进而影响食物质量。本研究旨在测定一些药用植物的重金属含量和矿物质营养状况，以了解其对植物和人类健康的影响。本研究采用 ICP-OES 分析了从土耳其采集的 17 种药用植物的常用部位（根、根茎、种子、树脂、瘿、果实）中 Al、B、Ca、Cd、Cr、Cu、Fe、K、Mg、Mn、Na、Ni、Pb 和 Zn 的浓度。从最低到最高的测量值（mg/kg）分别为 30.983-368.877 的 Al、13.845-186.015 的 B、1335.699-11213.951 的 Ca、0.016-0.653 的 Cd、0.379-30.708 的 Cr、23.838-90.444 的 Cu、78.960-1228.845 的 Fe、1035.948-6393.491 的 K、83.193-2252.031 的 Mg、12.111-362.570 的 Mn、278.464-1968.775 的 Na、1.945-35.732 的 Ni、0.796-17.162 的 Pb 和 166.910-395.252 的 Zn。总的来说，在靠近工业区域、采矿和农业区采集的药用植物中的重金属浓度略高。这表明，特别是对于重金属而言，药用植物采集地的清洁非常重要，因为如果这些植物受到污染，它们可能会造成更多的危害，而不是它们提供的好处。
