Screening of 33 medicinal plants for the microelements content.

The microelements content of 33 medicinal plants was analyzed. The analysed microelements were: Iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, chromium, nickel, cadmium and lead. Mineral contents were determinate by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS) with high resolution continuum source ContrAA 300 spectrometer. The contents in microelements for analysed samples were in range: 18.1 ppm (Symphytum officinale) - 1.4 ppm (Rhamnus frangula), for Copper; 26,2 ppm (Valeriana officinalis) – 4,3 ppm (Rhamnus frangula), for Zinc; 214 ppm. (Violae tricoloris herba) - 18 ppm (Equisetum arvense), for Manganese; 826 ppm (Calendula officinalis) - 23 ppm (Rhamnus frangula), for Iron. The microelements contents (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) have grouped the analyzed medicinal plants in two main clusters. First main cluster was formed by other two groups.