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Introduction: Medicinal herbs have been used in the traditional medicine for years to relieve and treat many human diseases, while nowadays their use is increasing around the world due to their mild features and low side effects. Based on the scientific arguments, supplementation of diet with various herbs is recommended among individual consumers, both for its healing properties and nutritive value. The interest in chemical composition of medicinal herb products is growing because of ongoing developments in nutrition and in biochemical surveying and mineral prospecting. As representative for medical plants in the presented study infusions prepared from leaves and blossoms of Teucrium montanum were studied for the mineral composition ranging from trace to major elements. Methodology: Blossoms and leaves of Teucrium montanum were digested in a microwave oven in order to determine the total content of the elements of interest. Infusions were prepared to quantify the amount of the metals by inductively coupled – plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The extraction yield was then calculated. The elements under study were Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn. Results and Discussion: In the plant parts all elements except B and Ba were found. In the infusions only Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn were detected, their extraction yields ranging from 5 up to 35% depending on decoction period. Conclusions: Infusions from Teucrium montanum are a good dietary source of essential metals especially regarding Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn. Thus in addition to the known beneficial impact from its organic compounds the mineral composition justifies its usage as medical plant. |
