Open AccessThe content of heavy metals in the leaves of Hypericum perforatum L. on serpentinite soils in Serbia
Author(s) -
Dragica Obratov–Petković,
Ivana Bjedov,
Snežana Belanović
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
glasnik šumarskog fakulteta - univerzitet u beogradu/glasnik šumarskog fakulteta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2217-8600
pISSN - 0353-4537
DOI - 10.2298/gsf0898143o
Subject(s) - manganese , heavy metals , hypericum perforatum , soil water , chromium , plant species , nickel , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , botany , biology , soil science , organic chemistry , pharmacology
St John's wort is one of the best known and used medicinal plants. The demands for St John's wort in Serbia is still supplied by the collection of native plants. Therefore it was necessary to examine the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and in plant material on serpentinites and to assess the potential safe harvesting and further utilisation of this plant species. The research was performed on three serpentinite sites in Serbia: Zlatibor, Divčibare and Goč. The main soil types were determined and the contents of 7 chemical elements were analyzed in the soil and in the plant material. It was determined that the soils of all three localities had increased concentrations of nickel, chromium and manganese. The St John's wort plant material (leaves) showed the increased concentrations of iron, nickel and chromium. It was concluded that St John's wort was a tolerant species regarding the heavy metal content, and it was recommended to avoid its harvesting on the investigated localities