Методом масс-спектрометрии с индуктивно-связанной плазмой определено содержание 17 микроэлементов (тяжелых металлов, мышьяка и алюминия) в листьях, стеблях и семенах тыкв, выращенных в местах с различной антропогенной нагрузкой. На основе полученных экспериментальных данных с помощью коэффициентов Спирмена оценены синергизм и антагонизм накопления этих элементов в различных морфологических частях тыквы. Установлено, что семена тыквы характеризуются меньшим содержанием токсичных элементов по сравнению с ее растительной массой и менее выраженной способностью элементов стимулировать накопление друг друга. Общий для морфологических частей тыквы синергизм накопления элементов выявлен только для пар Co/Ni, Co/Fe и Cu/Zn. В семенах тыквы обнаружен антагонизм накопления пары элементов Cu/Ni, в листьях — пары As/Cu, в стеблях случаев антагонизма накопления элементов не выявлено. Сделан вывод об отсутствии необходимости учитывать синергизм накопления токсичных и потенциально канцерогенных элементов в семенах тыквы при оценке суммарного индекса опасности от их совместного воздействия на организм человека.

Pumpkin seeds belong to the so-called native products. Their characteristic feature is that they can be consumed directly, without prior extraction of the starting material. All elemental toxicants contained in pumpkin seeds are transferred in full to the native product. Therefore, it is important to study specific aspects of elemental toxicant accumulation by pumpkin seeds.The aim of the study was to determine the content of heavy metals, As, and Al in pumpkin seed herbal substance and native products, and to assess the degree of accumulation of these elements, depending on the vegetation area.Materials and methods: the study evaluated pumpkin seed native products by Russian manufacturers as well as pumpkin seeds harvested in areas with different anthropogenic load. The sample preparation was performed by microwave digestion, and the determination of the elemental toxicants was perfomed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results: the pumpkin seeds were shown to contain essential, probably essential, potentially toxic, and toxic elements. The authors performed comparative analysis of the elemental composition of pumpkin seeds as well as seeds, grains, and beans of various oil-bearing, grain, and leguminous crops.Conclusions: the content of the specified elemental toxicants (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in the tested samples of pumpkin seed herbal substance and herbal medicinal products did not exceed the limits established by the Russian Pharmacopoeia. The unspecified toxic elements were either absent in pumpkin seeds (Tl) or found in trace amounts (Al). The content of a number of essential elements (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cr) in pumpkin seeds was higher than in the seeds of many oil-bearing crops. The vegetation area had no significant influence on the content of the tested elements in the pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are capable of accumulating abnormally high amounts of Cd, Co, and Ni in areas with high environmental pollution.

Mint is a medicinal herbal drug; and its leaves are also widely used in the food and cosmetic industries. Medical literature states that mint is naturally resistant to toxic elements and capable of accumulating them in significant amounts.The aim of the study was to compare heavy metals, arsenic, and aluminum contents in mint leaves and products.Materials and methods: the study covered peppermint leaves, tinctures, and oils, as well as teas and dietary supplements made of different varieties of mint. Elemental analysis was performed according to the procedure of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) developed by the authors.Results: the authors studied the compliance of the experimentally established contents of heavy metals, arsenic, and aluminum in peppermint leaves and products to the requirements of Russian and foreign regulatory documentation. Nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to characterise the interaction between chemical elements.Conclusions: arsenic contents in mint leaves may exceed the limit given in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, 14th ed. It is supposed that the increased contents are not a result of the anthropogenic factor, but a specific characteristic of this plant. The study demonstrated synergistic absorption of aluminum, iron, and vanadium, as well as copper and zinc by mint. It was established that manganese had an antagonistic effect on the absorption of nickel, lead, and cobalt by mint.

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Brown seaweeds (Laminariaceae) vary considerably in the content of toxic and essential elements; these variations depend on the taxonomic group and geographical factors. Seaweeds are extensively used in the food industry and widely applied in medicine for both humans and animals. Therefore, it is relevant to examine the correlation between the elemental composition and the geographical origin of kelp thalli obtained from different sources.The aim of the study was to collect, collate, and analyse primary and secondary data on the accumulation of essential, toxic and potentially carcinogenic elements, including iodine, in the thalli of brown seaweeds (Laminariaceae).Materials and methods. This study investigated the concentrations of 17 elements in Laminaria spp. (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Pb, Sr, V, Zn, and I). Experiments were conducted on an Agilent 7900 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The authors studied publications on the elemental composition of brown seaweeds (Laminariaceae) using literature search and data analysis methods.Results. This article reflects the updated classification of brown seaweeds (Laminariaceae) and summarises information about the mechanisms by which iodine and other elements accumulate in the thallus. The authors established species-specific variations in the order of element uptake and in the accumulation of elemental toxicants. The mutual influence of elements on their accumulation in brown seaweeds (Laminariaceae) was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients.Conclusions. The study results can inform the implementation of a risk-based quality control strategy for herbal medicinal products aimed at reducing human exposure to toxic elements. The authors suggest that the upper limit of iodine content in kelp-based food products should be standardised.