DOI: n/a
Abstract
A comparative research has been carried out to allow us to (i) determine the quantities and the centers of accumulation of Pb, Zn and Cd in the vegetative organs of some medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as in their products, and (ii) evaluate the extent of tolerance and phytoextractability of selected plant species. A clearly distinguished species peculiarity existed in the accumulation of heavy metals in vegetative organs. Valeriana officinalis L. and Melissa officinalis L. accumulate heavy metals from the soil through the root system, and a great part of the heavy metals is inhibited by the roots and only a small quantity moves to the aboveground parts. In Centranthus ruber L., Nepeta cataria L., Vinca minor L. and Datura stramonium L. only a small part of the heavy metals is inhibited by the roots, and the great part of them is accumulated in the aboveground parts (stems and leaves). The obtained results show that the investigated medicinal and aromatic plants can be planted successfully on areas, contaminated by heavy metals and may have the potential for phytoremediation.