US EPA

356702 

Journal Article 

Heavy metal content in plants from family Lamiaceae cultivated in an industrially polluted region 

Angelova, V; Ivanov, K; Ivanova, R 

2005 

Yes 

Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants
ISSN: 1049-6475
EISSN: 1540-3580 

11 

4 

37-46 

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), cultivated at selected distances from a heavy metal pollution source (the Non-Ferrous Metal Works near Plovdiv, Bulgaria) were examined for heavy metal accumulation. The content of heavy metals in the roots, stems, leaves, and inflorescences, plus the heavy metal concentration in the essential oils obtained from clary sage and peppermint indicated that higher metal concentrations in the soil led to higher levels of the metals in plant tissues. Of the plants studied, clary sage had the highest and sage had the lowest concentrations. The plant that most strongly absorbed and accumulated heavy metals from the soil was Salvia sclarea, followed by Mentha × piperita, and Salvia officinalis. The content of Pb, Zn, and Cd in the leaves from sage and peppermint cultivated in the region of the metal works exceeded the maximum regulatory permissible concentrations and could be a potential danger if used as herbal tea. The quantities of Pb, Cu, and Cd in the essential oil of clary sage and peppermint cultivated in close proximity to the metal works were also higher than the accepted permissible concentrations, but could potentially be used in the perfumery, cosmetics, and tobacco industries. Sage proved not suitable for cultivating in industrial polluted regions due to accumulation of heavy metals. Peppermint could be cultivated in industrially polluted regions if used for the essential oil. Clary sage was a hyperaccumulator of heavy metals and could be used for cleaning toxic metals from polluted soils. 

cadmium; chemical composition; copper; essential oils; heavy metals; inflorescences; lead; leaves; plant composition; pollutants; roots; sage; stems; zinc; Bulgaria; Lamiaceae; Mentha piperita; Salvia; Salvia officinalis; Salvia sclarea; Lamiales; dicotyledons; angiosperms; Spermatophyta; plants; eukaryotes; Mentha; Balkans; Southern Europe; Europe; Developed Countries; chemical constituents of plants; Horticultural Crops (FF003) (New March 2000); Plant Composition (FF040); Pollution and Degradation (PP600); Composition and Quality of Non-food/Non-feed Plant Products (SS230); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400)