This paper presents the results of experimental research performed to analyze thepotentially contain of heavy metals in whole and chopped herbs, in order to examine the influence of the cutting process on bioaccumulation of metals in studied plant material

Harmanescu, M.

Muscalu, A.

Pruteanu, A.

Vladut, V.

This paper presents the results of experimental research performed to analyze thepotentially contain of heavy metals in whole and chopped herbs, in order to examine theÂ influence of the cutting process on bioaccumulation of metals in studied plant material

Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series

Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015199THE ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS CONTENTIN WHOLE AND CHOPPED PLANTSPRUTEANU A.1), HĂRMĂNESCU M.2), VLĂDUŢ V.1), MUSCALU A.1)1)INMA Bucharest;2)USAMV TimisoaraE-mail: pruteanu_augustina@yahoo.comKeywords: medicinal plants, heavy metals contain, whole plants, choppeed plantsABSTRACTThis paper presents the results of experimental research performed to analyze thepotentially contain of heavy metals in whole and chopped herbs, in order to examine theinfluence of the cutting process on bioaccumulation of metals in studied plant material.INTRODUCTIONHerbal plants represent an important class of various traditional medicine systemsand, in recent years, they are increasingly used in the primary health care intervention inboth developed and developing countries [1].Herbs are traditionally used for the treatment and prevention of ailments such asstomach pain, headache, diabetes, hypertension, rheumatism, and many others [6].The toxicity of trace metals on human health and the environment has attractedconsiderable attention in recent years. Plants are the main link in the transfer of heavymetals from the contaminated soil to humans. Heavy metals have a tendency toaccumulate in the food chain. Heavy metals have low excretion rates through the kidneywhich could result in damaging effects on humans even at very low concentrations. Metalssuch as zinc, copper, iron, manganese, and chromium are essential nutrients; they areimportant for the physiological and biological functions of the human body. [4] However, anincrease in their intake above certain permissible limits can become toxic [2, 3, and 6].Sources of heavy metal contamination in herbs could be linked towater used inirrigation, polluted soils, fertilizers and pesticides, industrial emissions, transportation, andharvesting and their processes [5].High levels of natural heavy metal concentrations in soil can result from geologicalprocesses, but mostly result from agriculture and industrial activities. Water can be animportant source of contamination as a result of discharges from treatment plants and pre-treatment activity, discharge of sewage and household wastes. Also, an important sourceof food contamination by heavy metals may be contact with machineries, installations ormachinery processing machinery.The heavy metal content of medicinal plants depends on the ratio of nutrients in thesoil, and their bioconversion in plants depending on certain conditions, such as fertilization,climatic conditions and genotype herbaceous species.MATERIAL AND METHODSamples of plants were purchased from market in dry form, in order to processthem (chopping and analysis of heavy metals). Heavy metals analysis method in the wholestudied medicinal plants and / or cut plants with herb cutting machine, were examined byatomic absorption spectrometry.The apparatus typically consists of the following: as digestion flasks with a volumeof about 120 ml, a tube from polytetrafluoroethylene; a system to make flasks airtight, amicrowave oven and an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with hollow-cathodelamps as source of radiation and a deuterium lamp as background corrector.Test solution: from about 0, 50 g of powdered product; add 6 ml of heavy metal-freenitric acid R and 4 ml of heavy metal-free hydrochloric acid R. Carry out the digestion in 3Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015200steps with 7 flasks each containing the test solution: 80% power for 15 min, 100% powerfor 5 min, 80% power for 20 min. At the end of the cycle allow the flasks to cool in air andto each add 4 ml of heavy metal-free sulfuric acid R.Blank solution: mix 6 ml of heavy metal-free nitric acid R and 4 ml of heavy metal-free hydrochloric acid R in a digestion flask and carry out the digestion in the samemanner as for the test solution. The test is in complies with the European Pharmacopoeia[7]. The operation has been repeated both for working standard solutions and samples of asufficient number of times to ensure a reliable average reading for each solution.RESULTSDistribution of heavy metals in different whole herbs or cut hearbs is graphicallyrepresented in Figure 1.Fig. 1. Distribution of zinc, copper, iron and manganese in various plantsMedicinal whole or cutFrom heavy metal analysis for the three botanical families can be observed thereare significant differences for iron concentrations (Figure 1). Each of the threecategories studied (Compositae, Hypericaceae, Lamiaceae) had its ownbasic profile, depending on the genotype.0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65ZnCuFeMnmg/kg-1Musetel TaiatMusetel Intreg0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220ZnCuFeMnmg/kg-1Menta TaiataMenta Intreaga0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65ZnCuFeMnmg/kg-1Sunatoare TaiataSunatoare IntreagaAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015201CONCLUSIONSMedicinal plants have pharmacological effects, but can be toxic because of storingheavy metals in their tissues, and therefore should be preventing the collecting ofmedicinal plants next to roads.Heavy metal charging over the legislated maximum limits, have negativeconsequences on soil quality and productivity, assuming any form of remedial generousfinancial resources and time.Slow accumulation of heavy metals in the body influence the metabolism anddecreases the quality of food resources available to consumers.In terms of plant contact with machinery, processing facilities and equipment thatare an important source of heavy metal contamination of food, for the four elementsanalyzed, genotype variation was higher than phenotypic variations.In this context, medicinal plants will always show a greater total iron content whencutting than whole plants.The metal content of the studied medicinal plants are variable and are due to thefollowing factors: differences between plant species, geographical area where they werecollected, exposure to different sources of pollution and the location of harvesting,processing steps and packaging.Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the content of heavy metals in plants with theaim to reduce the potential toxicity of heavy metals to consumers.Because selected medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine, there is apotential risk of heavy metal poisoning, where they come from polluted areas or processedimproperly, why they should be analyzed to determine the presence of heavy metals, inorder to avoid the accumulation of toxic substances in their long-term use.There are a lot of medicinal species from different botanical families, which canalso influence favorable or not, the quality of plant products obtained by bioactivecompounds they contain.It is therefore essential to have a quality control plant of raw material used toprepare various products / herbal preparations to ensure safety and effectiveness.BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Dghaim R., Al Khatib S., Rasool H., Ali Khan M. 2015 - Determination of HeavyMetals Concentration in Traditional Herbs Commonly Consumed in the United ArabEmirates, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, Journal of Environmental and Public Health(http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/973878)2. Diacu E., Pavel P., Ivanov A., Bogdan D., 2011 - Heavy metal content analysis inSalvia officinalis plants by graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrometry, Sci. Bull.,Series B, Vol. 73, Iss. 3, U.P.B., ISSN 1454-23313. Gergen I., Harmanescu Monica, 2012 - Application of principal component analysis inthe pollution assessment with heavy metals of vegetable food chain in the old miningareas,  Chemistry Central Journal  6:156. doi:10.1186/1752-153X-6-1564. Gjorgieva, D., Kadifkova-Panovska, T., Baceva, K., Stafilov, T., 2010 - Some toxicand Essential Metals in Medicinal Plants Growing in R. Macedonia. În: American-EurasianJournal of Toxicological Sciences 2(1): p. 57-61.5. Kabata-Pendias Alina, 2010 - Trace elements in soils and plants, Fourth Edition,CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 33487-27426. Muntean N., Muntean E., Creta C., Duda M., 2013 - Heavy metals in some commercialherbal teas, ProEnvironment 6,591 – 594 (http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/promediu)7. *** European Pharmacopea, 2014, 8th Edition, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France.

THE ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN WHOLE AND CHOPPED PLANTS

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THE ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN WHOLE AND CHOPPED PLANTS

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Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series