Biometal and heavy metal content in the soil-nettle (Urtica dioica L.): System from different localities in Serbia

Abstract

The content of some biometals (Fe, K, Mg, Zn, and Mn), and two heavy metals (Pb and Cd) in nettle (Urtica dioica L.) and in the respective soils were determined by ICP-OES. The samples were collected from two locations in the vicinity of Niš and one from Western Serbia. The amount of vitamin C in the samples was determined by iodometric titration. The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of ful- filling the daily needs for tested biometals and vitamin C by consuming nettle as tea or as vegetable, as well as to determine the amount of biometals that plants absorb from the soil. The obtained amount of Fe, K, Mg, Zn, Mn and vitamin C suggested that nettle can be used as an additional remedy in the treatment of anemia, and to alleviate the effects due to the lack of biometals. Some biometals were absorbed to certain saturation and some for as long as they were present in the soil.