Cadmium content in Hypericum perforatum L. and Thymus serpyllum L. from localities of the mountains Rtanj and Ozren

Abstract

Background/Aim. The beneficial effects of medicinal plants are well-known from the ancient times. However, expansion of phytopharmacy and phytotherapy occured during the last decades. Medicinal plants can absorb environmental contaminants from the ground and consequently may cause harmful effects on human health. Quality control usually comprises standard methodology which includes macroscopic identification and examination of active ingredients. Additionaly, there is a permanent need to control the level of pollutants in herbs, with a particular attention to the level of toxic metals. In this study we estimated the level of contamination by determining the content of cadmium (Cd) in the herbs of Hypericum perforatum and Thymus serpyllum collected from the different localities of the mountains Rtanj and Ozren. Methods. Herbs of investigated plants were collected during July 2005 from various localities of Rtanj and Ozren mountains. After drying, homogenization and mineralization, Cd content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results. The obtained results show that Cd content varies significantly in Hypericum perforatum samples collected. The lowest Cd level was found in samples from the one of Rtanj localities (0.25 mg Cd/kg), while the highest was observed in Hypericum perforatum from Ozren locality (1.24 mg/kg). Levels of Cd in the three of four investigated localities were higher than pro posed by WHO (0.3 mg/kg dried herb material). In all investigated samples of Thymus serpyllum herbs Cd levels were below the limit of detection of analytical method (0.2 mg Cd/kg dried materials). Conclusion. This work contributes to the issue of Cd content in Hypericum perforatum and Thymus serpyllum grown in localities of Rtanj and Ozren, and implies the importance for systemic control of Cd content in Hypericum species in order to provide safety of their preparations. Furthermore, regarding Cd toxicity, maximal permissible level of Cd in plant material should be evaluated and established concerning national legislative frame.Uvod/Cilj. Lekovitost nekih biljnih vrsta bila je poznata coveku jos pre nase ere. Medjutim, do ekspanzije fitofarmacije i fitoterapije dolazi tek poslednjih decenija. Lekovite biljke usled zagadjenja zivotne sredine mogu da apsorbuju prisutne zagadjivace. Kvalitet biljnih sirovina prati se standardnim metodama koje se prvenstveno odnose na identifikaciju biljne vrste i ispitivanja aktivnih principa. Ipak, i pored toga, uocena je potreba za kontrolisanjem i pracenjem nivoa zagadjivaca, medju kojima znacajno mesto zauzimaju toksicni metali. U ovom radu ispitivan je sadrzaj kadmijuma (Cd) u herbi dve biljne vrste, Hypericum perforatum L. i Thymus serpyllum L. koje su prikupljene sa razlicitih lokaliteta planina Rtanj i Ozren, sa ciljem procene nivoa kontaminacije. Metode. Herbe ispitivanih lekovitih biljaka sakupljene su tokom jula 2005. godine sa razlicitih lokaliteta planina Rtnja i Ozrena. Nakon susenja, homogenizacije i mineralizacije, sadrzaj Cd odredjivan je metodom atomske apsorpcione spektrofotometrije. Rezultati. Dobijeni rezultati ukazali su na znacajne varijacije sadrzaja Cd u sakupljenim uzorcima Hypericum perforatum. Najnizi sadrzaj Cd od 0,25 mg Cd/kg dobijen je u uzorku sa lokaliteta Rtnja, dok je najvisi nivo Cd odredjen u uzorku Hypericum perforatum sa lokaliteta Ozrena (1,24 mg/kg). Dobijene vrednosti sadrzaja Cd u herbi Hypericum perforatum sa tri od cetiri ispitivana lokaliteta bile su iznad vrednosti koju preporucuje SZO (0,3 mg/kg osusene droge). U svim ispitivanim uzorcima Thymus serpyllum nivoi Cd bili su ispod nivoa detekcije primenjene analiticke tehnike (0,2 mg Cd/kg osusene herbe). Zakljucak. Rezultati ovog rada doprineli su istrazivanju sadrzaja Cd u biljnim vrstama Hypericum perforatum i Thymus serpyllum koje rastu na lokalitetima Rtnja i Ozrena i ukazuju na potrebu uvodjenja sistematske kontrole sadrzaja Cd u Hypericum vrstama radi bezbedne upotrebe preparata izradjenih na bazi ovih biljnih vrsta. Imajuci u vidu toksicnost Cd namece se potreba da se nacionalnim zakonodavstvom odrede i ustanove maksimalno dozvoljene koncentracije sadrzaja ovog metala u biljnim lekovitim sirovinama. PR Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III46009