title: Determination of selected trace elements in herbs and their infusions.
abstract: The following macro- and microelements were determined in the leaf of peppermint (Mentha piperitae folium) and nettle (Urticae folium) (as tea bags) and in their infusions: As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V and Zn. The determinations were performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). From all the determined microelements the highest content found was that of iron, 244 and 107 mg/kg in the leaf of peppermint and nettle, respectively. However, the lowest content found was that of cobalt, 0.10 and 0.08 mg/kg for the leaf of mint and nettle, respectively. The most readily water eluting elements were strontium, selenium and iodine, the most difficult ones - barium and iron.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lozak
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sołtyk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostapczuk
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fijałek
mesh_terms: D005506:Food Contamination; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012016:Reference Values; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D027003:Urticaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013662:Tea; D014131:Trace Elements