Examination of microelements in medicinal plants of the Carpathian basin

Abstract

The application of medicinal plant drugs for curing has become popular again. The favourable effects of most of them have been examined and proven. Nevertheless, the beneficial properties of plants and extracts may be due to inorganic mineral elements besides organic constituents. Investigation of microelement content in plant drugs may be relevant for the determination of environmental relations. In pharmacological aspect microelement content in teas is essential. For plants, all extracts (teas, alcoholic extracts, etc.) prepared by divers ways (traditional-, microwave extraction, etc.) contain elements in different quantity. The comparison of microelement content of definite amount of tea consumed with Recommended Dietary Allowances, Dietary Reference Intake may give information on possible nutritional value.