Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2022, 23(1): 54-66
ORIGINAL PAPERS

COMPARATIVE ESTIMATION OF THE ACCUMULATION OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS FROM THE SOIL BY RAW MATERIALS OF VALERIAN SOMNITELNAYA AND VOLZHSKAYA GROWING ON THE TERRITORY OF THE VORONEZH REGION

O.A. Kolosova, O.V. Trineeva

Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl., 1, Voronezh, 394006, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2022-23-1-54-66 

ABSTRACT. Valeriana wolgensis Kazak. and Valeriana dubia Bunge grow in the Voronezh region from the cycle of Valerian officinalis (Valeriana officinalis L. s. I.), which are characterized by similar morphological features. Not only on the territory of the Russian Federation and the former USSR, but also in Europe, medicinal herbal preparations with valerian root are very popular for relieving mild symptoms of mental stress and improving sleep. In recent years, the topical direction of pharmacognosy is a comprehensive study of medicinal plants of various species, which makes it possible to substantiate the expediency of harvesting other organs and parts that are not described in the regulatory documentation for the purpose of rational environmental management of limited plant resources. Thus, the pharmacognostic study of the aerial organs of Valerian of the studied species is promising as a potential source of biologically active substances. The method of mass spectrometry was used to study the elemental composition of rhizomes with roots, the herb of Valeriana wolgensis Kazak. and Valeriana dubia Bunge, as well as soils from places of growth. The content of 6 macro- (Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na, P) and 59 micro- and ultramicroelements was determined. The data indicate that lead, arsenic and cadmium accumulate more intensively in rhizomes with roots in comparison with grass: 5–7 times, 1.5 times and 3.5–4.5 times, respectively. Mercury is more actively accumulated by above-ground organs – 1.5–2.0 times as compared to underground ones. The total content of toxic elements in rhizomes with roots of Volga Valerian is about 6.5 times higher than that for a similar type of raw valerian dubious. The content of toxic normalized elements in the soil is 7–9 times higher than in the studied underground organs, and almost 70–90 times. The value of medicinal plant raw materials directly depends on its environmental safety. Analysis of the content of toxic elements in the studied samples showed that their amount does not exceed the permissible limits. The values of the coefficients of biological absorption of elements for the raw materials of Valerian of the studied species were determined. According to the ability to accumulate normalized toxic elements, the grass of the studied species of Valerian can be classified as a safe plant raw material, regardless of the harvesting area. Rhizomes with roots of Valeriana dubia Bunge tend to actively absorb cadmium from the soil, which indicates the impracticality of collecting underground organs along busy highways and metallurgy enterprises.

KEYWORDS: rhizomes with roots, grass, Valeriana wolgensis Kazak., Valeriana dudia L., elemental composition, chromatography-mass spectrometry, biological accumulation coefficient.