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The heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) contents of selected plant species, grown in Southeast region of Serbia, that are traditionally used in alternative medicine were determined. Among the considered metals, iron content was the highest one and varied from 137.53 up to 423.32 mg/kg, while the contents of Cu, Zn and Mn were remarkably lower, and ranged from 8.91 to 62.20 mg/kg. In addition, an analysis of plants extracts showed a significant transfer of heavy metals during extraction procedure; therefore, the corresponding extraction coefficients reached values up to 88.8%. Those were especially high in the ethanol based extracts. Moreover, it is established that such coefficients mostly depend on the solvent nature and also on the treated plant species. The obtained results impose that medicinal plants from Southeast region of Serbia due to rather low content of heavy metals are appropriate for preparation of teas and medicinal extracts

The hydrocarbon fractions of three species of Achillea L. have been analysed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) and were shown to consist of the conventional, odd-carbon number dominant distributions of n-alkane homologues (C22-C35 )-n-Nonacosane (C29) is the main compound (ca.40%), and the carbon preference index (CPI) is high (ca.11)

The content of total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activities of different plant extracts of Callendula Officinalis L., used in Serbian traditional medicine were determined. The phenol content was determined by using UV-Vis measurements at 765 nm in the tested plant extracts obtained by standard extraction of Calendula officinalis L. The tested extracts, examined by DPPH method showed a high antioxidant activity that correlated significantly with the content of phenols and flavonoids. All tested extracts exhibited a strong scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (more than 96,8%). The contents of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, and Pb) were determined by the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Toxic metals, such as Cd, Cr, and Pb were not detected in the studied plant materials. The content of other metals in the plants and their extracts were low, except for iron. We examined the correlation of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) and the phenolic compounds content in the extracts. The studied plants from the Southeast Serbia are suitable for the preparation of teas and herbal extracts due to the low content of toxic metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn), a high content of phenolic compounds and a high antioxidant activity.

ABSTRACT. The content of metals, total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activities of different plant extracts, used in Serbian traditional medicine, were determined. Phenol content determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometer measurements at 765 nm in the tested plant extracts obtained by standard extraction procedure decreases in the order Origanum vulgare L. < Delphinum consolida L. < Cichorium intybus L. < Calendula officinalis L. The tested extracts, examined by DPPH (di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium) method, showed high antioxidant activity that correlates significantly with the content of phenols and flavonoids. The contents of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Pb) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Toxic metals, such as Cd, Cr, Pb, were not detected in the investigated plants. Content of other metals in plants and their extracts were low, except content of Fe. We examined the correlation of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) and phenolic compounds content in the extracts using PCA (principal component analysis). The investigated plants from Southeastern Serbia are suitable for the preparation of teas and herbal extracts, due to the low content of toxic metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn), the high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity.