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Determination of Zinc, Iron, Nitrogen and
Phosphorus in Several Botanical Species of
Medicinal Plants
P. Konieczyński, M. Wesołowski
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Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2007;16(5):785-790
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ABSTRACT
The total concentration of zinc, iron, nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as their water and acetic acid
extractable forms – nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and phosphate phosphorus – were determined in
St. John’s wort herb (Hypericum perforatum L.) yarrow herb (Achillea millefolium L.), nettle leaves (Urtica
dioica L.) and birch leaves (Betula pendula Roth.), collected from four natural locations in northern Poland.
The content of total Zn and Fe was determined by FAAS, whereas of total N, total P and their extractable
forms by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. The obtained results showed that particular plant species differed
significantly in the contents of Zn, Fe, P and P-PO4. The area of harvest didn’t have major effects on the
concentration of analyzed elements in the studied plant species. Significantly, 13 inter-element correlations
were obtained for the studied elements, mainly between iron and nitrogen, iron and phosphorus, phosphorus
and nitrogen and among their water-extractable forms, indicating their involvment in metabolism of
medicinal plants. Nutritional and toxicological aspects of the analyzed plants used commonly as folk medicines
in Poland were evaluated by comparison of the obtained results with the WHO/FAO norms.