Abstract

EVALUATION OF MINERAL AND TOXIC ELEMENTS IN AN IMPORTANT HERBAL MEDICINE (SCHINUS TEREBINTHIFOLIUS RADDI) IN BAHIA, BRAZIL

Vitor Hugo Migues*

ABSTRACT

Schinus terebinthifolius is a well-known medicinal plant that occurs in South and Central America and it is employed in folk medicine mainly as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, it is also commercialized as herbal medicines. Samples of S. terebinthifolius were collected in different habitats of the Brazilian semi-arid region. In this paper were evaluated the micro (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni and Zn), macro (Ca, Mg, Na and P) and toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb and Cr) by ICP OES and ICP-MS. The results were submitted to multivariate analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The multivariate analysis showed the the composition of S. terebinthifolius is altered seasonally. The developed methods were promising to evaluate the minerals, toxic elements, and the results indicate that they can be added as a potential nutritional supplement in the human diet.

Keywords: Minerals, Toxic elements, Chemometric, Brazilian pepper.