Elemental Composition of the Medicinal Plants Hypericum perforatum, Urtica dioica and Matricaria chamomilla Grown in Ukraine: A Comparative Study

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.