Evaluation of Trace Element and Heavy Metal Levels of Some Ethnobotanically Important Medicinal Plants Used as Remedies in Southern Turkey in Terms of Human Health Risk

Abstract

Heavy metal accumulation in medicinal plants has increased dramatically in recent years due to agricultural and industrial activities leading to pollution of natural sources. This study is focused on the concentration of trace elements and heavy metals in aboveground parts of 33 medicinal plants from the Eastern Mediterranean of Turkey. Results showed that the Al concentrations varied between 4.368 and 1104.627, the B level varied between 47.850 and 271.479, Ca values ranged between 1971.213 and 22,642.895, Cd concentrations ranged between 0.011 and 0.651, Cr contents varied between 1.371 and 41.692, Cu values varied between 13.278 and 42.586, Fe concentrations varied between 20.705 and 1276.783, K levels ranged between 652.143 and 14,440.946, Mg concentrations varied from 336.871 to 1869.486, Mn contents varied between 46.383 and 849.492, Na concentrations varied between 167.144 and 3401.252, Ni values varied between 0.065 and 9.968, Pb levels ranged between 1.311 and 16.238, and Zn concentrations ranged between 67.250 and 281.954 mg kg −1 , respectively. Furthermore, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values for trace elements and estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) for heavy metals were calculated. The concentrations of heavy metals in some studied plants distributed in industrial and mining regions were found as slightly higher than the acceptable limits determined by WHO. Consequently, in order to prevent this heavy metal accumulation, when collecting medicinal aromatic plants, rural areas, close to clean rivers, or mountainous areas should be preferred, away from highway, mining, and industrial areas.

An Ethnobotanical Study in Ceylanlı Village (Kırıkhan/Hatay-Türkiye)

“…Eaten as a pastry and salad (Sargın et al, 2013;Kerar & Akan, 2019;Yeşil et al, menstrual cramps, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, diuretic, diabetes treatment, antiparasitic (Al-Qura'n, 2008;Sargın et al, 2013;Owfi, 2021) (Honda et al, 1996;Kocabaş & Gedik, 2016;Sargin & Büyükcengiz, 2019;Özçelik, 2022) is fresh, it is applied directly or if the water is boiled and the water is applied, the burning of the hand goes away. (Akbulut, 2015;Altay et al, 2015;Sargın, 2015;Güneş et al, 2018 (Kocabaş & Gedik, 2016;Karahan et al, 2022). Zizyphus lotus (L.) Lam.…”

“…Although the use of plants for medicinal purposes in traditional treatment methods in history has lost its former value due to technological developments, the demand for medicinal plants has increased in recent years, especially due to the chemical side effects of drugs. It is known that 80% of the world population benefits from medicinal plants against diseases and more than 80.000 plant species are used for medicinal purposes (Karahan, 2022). For this reason, the investigation and conservation of these plants used in traditional medicine and the determination of their economic value as natural resources contribute to sustainable development in both developed and developing countries (Öztürk et al, 2018a, b, c;Malik et al, 2021).…”

“…Many ethnobotanical studies have been carried out in Hatay, which has hosted numerous cultures throughout history and has a rich ethnobotanical heritage, contributing to the efforts to define and protect this natural and cultural heritage (Karahan, 2022). Kırıkhan, chosen as the study area, is one of the most developed districts of Hatay province after Iskenderun and Antakya.…”

Phytochemical Screening, GCMS Profiling, In Vitro Antioxidant, In Vivo Acute Toxicity, and Hepatoprotective Activity of Cleome simplicifolia Bioactive Metabolites against Paracetamol-Intoxicated Wister Albino Rats

“…The elucidated mineral elements in the leaves indicate the proper maintenance of plants' physiological and metabolic processes. Moreover, these elements are key characteristics responsible for setting (of seeds and fruits), transportation (of carbohydrates, calcium, and hormones), and development (of tissues, roots, flowers, and cell walls), and other activities [56]. Despite playing a characteristic position in plant growth and development, the consumption of plants enriched with essential mineral elements by humans promotes metabolic processes, meets nutritive requirements, and contributes to mankind's medicinal properties [57].…”

Anthropression as a Factor Affecting the Content of Heavy Metals in the Flowers of Sambucus nigra L.—A Medicinal Plant Affecting Human Health

“…Long term exposure to heavy metals can cause stress in plants, lipid peroxidation, enzyme inactivation, DNA damage, respiratory inhibition, gas exchange, the limitation of photosynthesis, and the disturbance of water balance. This may cause visible changes in plant morphology, wilting aging, an overall reduction in biomass production, a limited number of seeds, and even plant death [11].…”