Research Information System
VII. International Symposium on Ecology and Environmental Problems, Antalya, Turkey, 18 - 21 December 2013, pp.104, (Full Text)
Aim: The aim of our study was to carry out a comparative evaluation of heavy metals content of essential oils, aerial herbs and the soil samples that the plants grown of wild and cultivated forms of Sideritis stricta Boiss. & Heldr. which is consumed as herbal tea and used for medicinal purposes.
Methods: Our study was carried out in May, June and July months which were the period of species’ flowering. Cultured forms were collected from Aksu (29 m altitude) and the others collected from Serik (50-100 m altitude). Soil samples were taken from the work areas. The essential oils obtained from dried aerial herbs by hydrodistillation method using Clevenger-type system. Heavy metal content were analyzed by using ICP AES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy). The total contents of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and As in wild and cultivated forms of S. stricta aerial parts, in essential oil and in the soil samples was examined.
Results: The highest heavy metal that detected in soil samples, plant samples and essential oils was Ni which is an essential element for plants. Moreover, Cr, Cd, Pb and As have been detected in all soil samples due to the roads that near the study areas, however the amounts of heavy metals were under the toxic level. In addition Ni and Cd have been detected in wild and cultivated plant samples and their essential oils.
Conclusion: The results of our study indicated that there is not any correlation between the heavy metal consantrations of soil and neither heavy metal consantrations of aerial parts of the plant nor essential oil. However there is a correlation between heavy metal consantrations of aerial parts of the plant and heavy metal consantrations of essential oil.