Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Van sağlık bilimleri dergisi, cilt.15, sa. özel, ss.224-232, 2022 (Hakemli Dergi)
Objective: Rosa canina L., Malus domestica L., Prunus persica L Siebold & Zucc., Cydonia oblonga Mill., Armenica vulgaris Lam., and Pyracantha coccinea M.Roem. are important fruits of the Rosaceae family, used in a wide variety of industries such as food, perfume, cosmetics, paint, beverage, and for economic and medical purposes. Although medicinal plants act with their natural components against diseases, they can cause toxic and unde-sirable side effects. It is important in terms of human health and food safety to examine plants for their heavy metal, mineral, protein and antioxidant capacities before they are used for treatment, food or cosmetic purposes. The heavy metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn), minerals (Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, K), protein and antioxidant capacities of some medicinal plants grown in Van-Turkey were determined and their safety in terms of food and in medical uses were evaluated. Material and Method: After the lyophilized plants were solubilized with a wet burning (microwave) device, Al, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, K elements were analyzed in the ICPOES device. Protein analyzes were per-formed by the Gerthardt Dumatherm method. Cuprac method was used for antioxidant capacity analysis. Results: The measured values were ranged between (in mg kg−1) Al 10.753-20.407, Co 0.007-9.664, Cr 0.119-0.411, Cu 2.409-6.554, Zn 23.426-33.891, Ca 743.0-2501.7, Fe 31.7-117.6, K 3555.2-4202.9, Mg 498.7-1982.9, Na 839.8-1616.0 and Protein (%) 1.45-5.53. Detected heavy metal amounts are in general within acceptable limits determined by WHO (World Health Organization). While the Cuprac values of the plants ranged between 1.13 and 3.62, the Cuprac values for the standard synthetic antioxidants α-tocopherol and BHT were determined as 2.14 and 3.21 µmol TE g−1DW, respectively. In particular, it was determined that Rosa canina extracts showed high activity (3.62 µmol TE g−1DW) comparable to α-tocopherol and BHT. Conclusion: : For centuries, human beings have benefited from plants in the treatment of diseases. Due to the severe side effects of synthetic drugs, people in the modern world also turn to medicinal plants for the treatment of many diseases. However, conscious consumption of medicinal plants by examining them especially in terms of heavy metal amounts will prevent serious health problems in the long run. The study showed that the heavy metal amounts of some plants belonging to the Rosaceae family, which are cultured, used for therapeutic pur-poses and consumed as fruit by the people of Van, are safe for human consumption and medical uses, and their micronutrient, protein and antioxidant capacities are at the desired level for healthy nutrition and therapeutic uses.