Mineral Content in Medicinal Plants from Roadside Areas

Jim Crocker
12th August, 2024

Mineral Content in Medicinal Plants from Roadside Areas

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study in the Voronezh region found that medicinal plants near roads and railways can be contaminated by pollutants
  • Safe harvesting distances were determined: 210 meters from heavy-traffic roads in forest zones, 240 meters in forest-steppe zones, and 380 meters in steppe zones
  • For secondary low-speed roads and railways, a minimum distance of 80 meters is recommended to ensure plant safety
The study of mineral content in medicinal plants collected from roadside and railside areas in the Voronezh region offers significant insights into environmental contamination and its impact on plant safety for medicinal use. Conducted by Voronezh State University, this research[1] evaluated the total ash content in ten species of pharmacopoeial plant raw materials to determine the safe distances from roads and railways for harvesting these plants. The species studied included roots of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg and Arctium lappa L.; herb of Polygonum aviculare L., Artemisia absinthium L., Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib., and Achillea millefolium L.; leaves of Urtica dioica L. and Plantago major L.; and flowers of Tanacetum vulgare L. and Tilia cordata Mill. The research aimed to establish minimum allowable distances from various roads and railways to ensure that the medicinal plants collected are free from harmful levels of pollutants. The study found that the minimum safe distance from heavy-traffic motorways should be 210 meters in forest zones, 240 meters in forest-steppe zones, and 380 meters in steppe zones. For secondary low-speed roads and railways, a distance of at least 80 meters was recommended. These findings are crucial for ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants, as roadside and railside areas are prone to contamination from vehicular emissions and industrial activities. This research builds upon earlier studies that have investigated the accumulation of pollutants in plants. For instance, a comparative study conducted in three European cities found that tree bark, particularly from pine trees, accumulated higher concentrations of heavy metals compared to leaves, making it a more efficient bioindicator of urban pollution[2]. This aligns with the current study's emphasis on the impact of proximity to roads and railways on plant contamination. Another relevant study examined the accumulation of airborne particles on the leaf surfaces of different plant species in Beijing. It was found that the structure of epicuticular wax on leaves significantly affected their ability to capture particulate matter (PM)[3]. This earlier research highlights the complex interactions between plant surfaces and environmental pollutants, which is also a concern in the Voronezh study. Additionally, research on ivy leaves as bioindicators of metal pollution demonstrated that leaves collected from different land use areas showed varying levels of metal content and magnetic properties[4]. This method of using plants as bioindicators is echoed in the Voronezh study, which uses the total ash content of plant materials to gauge contamination levels and recommend safe harvesting distances. By determining the safe distances for collecting medicinal plants, the Voronezh study provides practical guidelines that can be used to mitigate the risk of contamination. This is particularly important for ensuring that medicinal plants, which are often used for their therapeutic properties, do not contain harmful levels of pollutants that could negate their benefits or pose health risks. In summary, the study conducted by Voronezh State University offers valuable insights into the safe harvesting of medicinal plants in polluted environments. By establishing minimum allowable distances from roads and railways, the research helps protect the integrity and safety of medicinal plant raw materials. This study, along with earlier research on pollutant accumulation in plants[2][3][4], underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating environmental contamination to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants.

MedicineEnvironmentPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Total Mineral Content in Raw Materials of Ten Medicinal Plants from Roadside Biotopes of Voronezh Oblast.

Published 11th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496624701126

Related Studies

2) Trees as bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in three European cities.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.08.008

3) Accumulation of particles on the surface of leaves during leaf expansion.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.014

4) Magnetic- and particle-based techniques to investigate metal deposition on urban green.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.026


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