HEAVY METAL CONTENT SCREENING IN LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF Hypericum perforatum L. BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

Atomic absorption spectrometry facilitates the reliable determination of mineral content during pharmaceutical quality control of medicinal plants. In the present work, measurable amounts of Fe, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn were detected in the leaves and flowers of Hypericum perforatum L. through atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean heavy metal content in the flowers of H. perforatum L. was, in descending order, Ca>Mg>K>Fe>Na>Mn>Zn>Cu and in the leaves of H. perforatum L. was, in descending order, Mg>Ca>K>Na>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu. Ca was present in higher concentrations in the leaves (18028.345 ppm) and flowers (10955.625 ppm) of titled plant. Our results reveal that flowers are less suitable as target plant parts for metal accumulation than leaves.