@article {554, title = {Elemental Composition of the Medicinal Plants Hypericum perforatum, Urtica dioica and Matricaria chamomilla Grown in Ukraine: A Comparative Study}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {March 2018}, pages = {486-491}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {486}, abstract = {

Objective: To determine concentrations of essential microelements Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn, as well as toxic metals Pb, Cd, Cr and Co, in three herbal remedies and compare the experimental data obtained with available literature data. Materials and Methods: Elemental compositions of three herbal remedies, Chamomile flowers, Urtica folia (nettle) and Hyperichi herba (St John\’s wort), grown and produced in Ukraine, were studied by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The Fe concentration decreases, as well as the Zn and Mn concentrations, increase in going from nettle through chamomile to St John\’s wort. The Cu content is virtually independent of the plant type. Statistically significant negative correlations between the element concentrations were found in Fe-Mn and Fe-Zn pairs. The studied samples of St John\’s wort are more contaminated with Cd than other plants, while the highest Pb content is observed in some samples of nettle. Conclusion: The measured levels of both Pb and Cd still secure against overuse of toxic metals with herbal remedies.

Key words: Medicinal plants, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Elemental composition, Pb, Cd contamination.

}, keywords = {Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Cd contamination, Elemental composition, Medicinal plants, Pb}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.3.80}, url = {http://fulltxt.org/article/513}, author = {Tetiana Derkach and Volodymyr Khomenko} } @article {600, title = {Ficus religiosa Tree Leaves as Bioindicators of Heavy Metals in Gorakhpur City, Uttar Pradesh, India}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {March 2018}, pages = {416-420}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {416}, abstract = {

Objective: The present work investigates the metal uptake of the plant Ficus religiosa leaves collected from nine experimental sites in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: The concentration of lead in leaves was determined with help of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The level of the lead in leaves of Ficus religiosa was much higher than the limits recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The bioaccumulation of lead was highest in site 2 (Gayatri nagar) i.e. 14.1 mg kg-1 dry weight of F. religiosa. To determine the relationship between the lead concentration in leaves and traffic density the Pearson\’s correlation analysis has been performed. Conclusion: The value of Pearson\’s correlation coefficient was positive indicating that the traffic density plays an important role in the lead pollution in plants.

}, keywords = {Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Lead, Metal}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2018.3.68}, url = {http://fulltxt.org/article/501}, author = {Pooja Agrahari and Richa R and Kumari Swati and Supriya Rai and Vinay Kumar Singh and Dinesh Kumar Singh} }