Essential and Heavy Metals Content in Wild and Cultivated Mentha Species from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Both essential and heavy metals play important roles in human health and diseases. The aim of the present study was to determinate concentrations of essential and heavy metals, such as Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe, Pb, Zn, and Cd, in the leaves of Mentha longifolia L. and Mentha × piperita L. The plant material samples were collected from six different locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), at selected distances from heavy metal pollution sources. Wet digestion was applied for the dissolution of samples and essential and heavy metals concentrations were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and (FAAS). Results of the analysis (expressed as mg g–1) were obtained as follows: Na 2.08–4.12; K 14.85–22.54; Ca 9.06–15.53; Mg 1.93–3.12; Cu 0.01–0.05; Cr 0.70–0.90; Mn 0.02–0.09; Ni 1.10–7.00; Fe 0.06–1.11; Pb 0.10–0.90; Zn 0.01–0.04. The cadmium concentration in all samples was below the detection limit by FAAS. Strong correlation between Ni and Pb, as well as Ni and Fe, confirmed mostly environmental and processing influence/impact. In conclusion, Mentha longifolia L. and Mentha × piperita L. can be used in daily consumption considering the high content of essential metals Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn, and their beneficial effects on normal body function. In addition, there is no risk of heavy metals to human health after consuming these samples due to lower concentrations.

Bioaccumulation and Translocation of Some Transition Metals in <i>Mentha spicata</i> and <i>Mentha longifolia</i>

“…Nickel is moderately highly positively correlated with Zn, while it is relatively weakly correlated with Fe and Mn. In the results provided by Mandal [31], in the tissues of M. longifolia there is a strong correlation between the following metal pairs: Zn-Cu, Zn-Ni, and Cu-Ni.…”

“…Sometimes it is not possible to compare the results of the metal content in the same plant species from / Cundinamarca (Colombia) [28] North-West parts of India [29] M. longifolia / Chhattisgarh, Central India [1] / Southeast of Turkey [3] / Eastern Anatolia, Turkey [7] Greater Cairo, Egypt [23] / Kurdistan Region -Iraq [30] Bosnia and Herzegovina [31] / Khushab District, Pakistan [32] Higher results in our research…”