UDK 543.632.495:582.794.1 DOI: 10.7562/SE2016.6.01.01 Original article www.safety.ni.ac.rs MARIJA ILIĆ 1 VESNA STANKOV JOVANOVIĆ 2 VIOLETA MITIĆ 3 MARIJA DIMITRIJEVIĆ 4 JELENA CVETKOVIĆ 5 SNEŽANA TOŠIĆ 6 1-6 University of Niš, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Department of Chemistry marija.fertico@gmail.com sjvesna@yahoo.co.uk violetamitic@yahoo.com marija.dimitrijevic@pmf.edu.rs jelena.cvetkovic7@gmail.com sneskat@yahoo.com TOXIC METALS CONTENT AND SAFE USE OF Seseli pallasii HERB Abstract: Heavy metals, whether from natural or anthropogenic sources have the ability to migrate between different parts of environment and accumulate in flora and fauna, finally reaching humans through food chain. The possibility that plants might be contaminated by heavy metals should be taken into account, when they are intended for use in pharmaceutical and food industry, because increased concentration of some metals may have an adverse effect on human and animal health. Wild medicinal herb Seseli pallasii have been used in traditional medicine as well as a spice in nutrition, hence an assessment of the presence of toxic metals in it is essential in order to ensure its safe application. Vegetative parts of plant S. pallasii (root, leaf, flower and fruit) from Southeast Serbia were analyzed to assess the content of toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb, using inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results have shown that the average concentration of Cd in the aboveground part was almost twice as high 0.21 ppm than in the root 0.11 ppm, concentration of Cr in aerial part was of 0.43ppm, in the root 0.29 ppm, concentration of Ni in the aboveground was of 0.98ppm, while in the root it was of 0.68ppm. The average concentration of Pb in the aboveground part and the root was almost the same (2.31 and 2.15 ppm, respectively). These facts evidenced that the contents of toxic elements in the studied medicinal plant species are below the recommended limits, confirming that S. pallasii from the examined area can be safely used in traditional medicine and nutrition. Key words: Seseli pallasii, toxic metals, ICP, safety. INTRODUCTION Since ancient times, wild plants have been used in traditional medicine as teas and tinctures, because they contain many compounds which may contribute to preservation of good health, because of their potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepato-protective, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities [1]. Plant species Seseli palasii, have been recognized and described as one possessing healing properties [2]. Plants generally have the ability to absorb non-metals (eg. N, P, S) and metals (eg. K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr and Mo) which are necessary for their functioning and in the same time can accumulate other potentially harmful metals (eg. Al, Cd and Pb) from the environment (soil, water and air). However, even the essential metals (eg. Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr) can be toxic for the plant when present in higher concentrations [3]. If the plants are applied for medicinal and veterinary purposes, and/or in diet of people and animals, they represent a source of heavy metals intake in the organism, and in that way pose a risk to their health, because the high content of heavy metals can cause morphological cell abnormalities and mutagen influence in humans [4]. Although the presence and variety of essential elements in many plant species play an important role in the battle against a variety of diseases, heightened content of individual heavy metals in plants can lower their therapeutic activity, or even can be toxic to human health due to their consuming, and therefore their appliance is limited. In accordance to that, concentration of heavy metals in herbs is strictly limited and defined by international standards (i.e WHO, 1998) [5]. According to established standards as macro-elements can be classified elements which are ingested in amounts greater than 100 mg per day, and represent 1% or less of body mass. This group includes calcium, phosphorus, magnesium sulphur, potassium, chloride and sodium. Macro-elements are structural components of tissues; they have certain functions in the cells and basal metabolism, as well in water balance and acidic- alkaline balance [1]. Micro-elements are necessary in a much smaller quantities, less than 100 mg per day, and they make up less than 0.01% of body mass. Micro-elements are Zn, Fe, Si, Mn, Cu, Cr, fluorides and iodides. Elements which cause adverse effects are categorised as toxic (Pb, As, Cd,...); even though they are mostly present in traces, they pose a significant threat to human health, and therefore, determination of their content and mechanism of action have become an area of special interest and a priority in numerous research. Basgel & Erdemoglu have given values for daily intake of minerals by consuming herbal teas for persons with the weight of 70 kg: 500 mg Ca, 300 mg Mg, 15 mg Fe, 1 | Safety Engineering