MICRO-NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF SOME MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS COMMONLY USED IN TURKEY

Abstract

There has been a growing interest in monitoring nutrient composition and nutritional value of medicinal and aromatic plants in recent years. In this study, the levels of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and molybdenum (Mo) in selected medicinal and aromatic plants were monitored by inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). Samples of chamomile, nettle, rosemary, yarrow, bay leaf, St. John's wort, basil, lemon balm, linden, sage and thyme were subjected to chemical analysis. The contents of micronutrients in the plant samples were found in the ranges: 3.2-15.6 mg kg(-1) for cupper, 93.0.1057.3 mg kg(-1) for iron, 22.3-53.6 mg kg(-1) for zinc, 28.3-148.3 mg kg(-1) for manganese, 0.23-2.13 kg(-1) for molybdenum and 15.0-64.3 mg kg(-1) for boron. Results obtained are in agreement with data reported in the literature.