Determination of heavy metal content of some medicinal plants sold in herbalists in Edirne province

This study was carried out to determine the heavy metal content in medicinal plants sold by herbalists in Edirne. Although medicinal plants contain beneficial components for health, they are contaminated with heavy metals due to environmental factors. In the study; medicinal plants sold from Edirne herbalists and used by the public were examined. Urtica dioica, Hypericum perforatum, Salvia rosmarinus, Tilia platyphyllos, Matricaria chamomilla, Salvia fruticosa, Foeniculum vulgare, Helichrysum arenarium, Camellia sinensis, Lavandula officinalis, Olea europaea, Melissa officinalis, Persea americana samples taken from 13 different medicinal plants were analysed by ICP-MS method and the concentrations of lithium, aluminium, chromium, iron, nickel, copper, arsenic, cadmium, tin and lead were determined. The statistical data of the study were analysed by using one-way analysis of variance ANOVA in SPSS 20 programme. The data obtained as a result of the analysis were compared with the reference values of the World Health Organization. According to the results of the analysis, arsenic, cadmium and iron were found mostly in Hypericum perforatum; aluminium and chromium were found mostly in Lavandula officinalis; lead was found mostly in Salvia rosmarinus, nickel was found mostly in Camellia sinensis and copper was found mostly in the leaf of Olea europaea. Heavy metal contents of medicinal plants sold in Edirne herbalists were determined for the first time in this study. Since high levels of these metals can have toxic effects on human health, it is recommended to buy these plants from reliable sources with known growing conditions.