Exploring the health impacts of mineral and heavy metal concentrations in wild plants with nutritional and medicinal value

Abstract

The research set out to quantify mineral and heavy metal concentrations in four wild plants: Allium orientale Boiss., Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb., Anchusa officinalis L., and Arum elongatum Steven. These species are both nutritionally and medicinally valuable. Procedures: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to examine the presence and amount of 23 heavy metals and minerals. End result: Calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum were the most prevalent minerals. Elements Ni, Cu, Mn, B, and Na were somewhat plentiful. Low or nonexistent quantities of toxic heavy metals like Sn, Li, Co, Se, Sb, Hg, Cd, As, and Pb were found. Both potassium (7496.435 mg/kg) and calcium (2947.378 mg/kg) were found in abundance in A. officinalis. In contrast, A. orientale and A. elongatum had quite high iron contents (1022.068 and 699.932 mg/kg, respectively). Compared to the other three plants, A. orientalale had almost double the content of magnesium (731.012 mg/kg). At 889.368 mg/kg and 651.570 mg/kg, respectively, Al was present in A. orientale and A. elongatum. Plants A. orientale, A. officinalis, and A. elongatum had Cr contents that were higher than the EPA standards and the industry norm. The research concludes that four common wild plants utilized in alternative medicine and nutrition have different elemental profiles, heavy metal contents, and potential impacts on human health. There isn't a lot of pollution from most of the elements. Nutritional and comparative studies may also benefit from the findings, and the food and pharmaceutical businesses can find them valuable.