DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS AND SECONDARY METABOLITES OF „PEUCEDANUM OREOSELINUM“ (APIACEAE)

The total quantity of metals (Mg, Ca, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) in soil samples and in sixteen different extracts from plant parts of Peucedanum oreoselinum (L.) Moench as well as the content of total phenols and flavonoids in plant extracts was determined. The contents of metals were determined by the atomic absorption spectrometer. Based on the average values of the metal concentration in the soil, they could be arranged in the following sequence: Fe > Ca > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni. Soil concentrations of all tested metals were lower than the maximum allowed concentration. The results demonstrated that the analyzed plant extracts contained higher quantities of Ni and Ca. Although the studied species accumulate analyzed metals in different quantities, they are not hyperaccumulators of these metals. Total phenols were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and their amounts ranged from 1.94 to P. oreoselinum, hyperaccumulation, phenols, flavonoids32.38 mg GA/g. The amounts of flavonoids in plant extracts were in range from 0.69 to 25.83 mg RU/g. We examined the correlation of metals and the phenolic compounds content in the extracts. According to our results the use P. oreoselinum for tea preparation is safe to a great extent for people, because in spite of the determined metal absorption by plant organs, the tea does not contain dangerous quantity of heavy metals. Also, it is suitable for the preparation of teas and herbal extracts due to minimal content of toxic metal (Ni), phenols and flavonoids.