title: Seasonal Variations of Mercury Levels in Selected Medicinal Plants Originating from Poland.
abstract: The presence of mercury in the living cells may be caused by environmental pollution with this element, which is referred to as a toxic xenobiotic. Many literature reports have provided evidence for toxic effects of low levels of mercury in the human body. Therefore, it seems essential to investigate mercury content in food and in natural environment, particularly its seasonal variations. The objective of this study was to determine trace amounts of mercury in 45 samples of 20 medicinal plant species collected in northern Poland, in various seasons of the year, i.e., in autumn 2012 and then spring 2013. The results obtained showed that the levels of mercury in the herbs were lower in spring (3.66-34.89 ng/g) than in autumn (4.55-81.54 ng/g). The statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) between the levels of mercury in herbs collected in spring and autumn indicates hazardous accumulation of the element in plants in autumn. The highest levels of mercury were found in leaves and plants growing in the vicinity of busy streets. Perennials plants have a significantly higher mercury levels as compared to those of monocarpic plants. Furthermore, commonly used herbal plants have a significantly higher mercury levels as compared to those less common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. mordak@wum.edu.pl.|Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. mordak@wum.edu.pl.|Chair and Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. mordak@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ordak
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wesolowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Radecka
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muszynska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bujalska-Zazdrozny
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011044:Poland; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Medicinal herbs; Mercury; Seasonal variations of mercury levels