Abstract
The contents of some selected metals Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd in different thyme leaf samples widely consumed in Ethiopia were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) after acid digestion with 1:1 HNO3/HClO4 for 3 h at a temperature of 240°C by a Kjeldahl apparatus hot plate digester. The level of the nutrients in the four samples ranged from 1,239–2,517 μg/g, Ca; 1,524–1,786 μg/g, Mg; 728–2,517 μg/g, Fe; 37.7–114 μg/g, Mn; 2.59–4.3 μg/g, Co; 7.69–9.3 μg/g, Cu; 8.7–52 μg/g, Zn; and 9.83–14.2 μg/g, Ni; respectively. While the level of toxic metal Cd in the four samples ranged from 0.87–1.3 μg/g. The concentration of Ca was higher than the other metals in the three samples and Cd was the least of all the metals in the analyzed samples. The overall reproducibility of the method obtained from spiking experiment was within the range ±10%. This result will complement available data on food composition in Ethiopia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
WHO (1999) WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Volume 1, Herba Thyme. WHO, Geneva
Demsew S (1993) The genus Thymus (Labiatae) in Ethiopia. Opera Bot 121:57–60
Asfaw N, Storesund HJ, Skattebol L, Tonnesen F, Aasen AJ (2000) Volatile oil constituents of two Thymus species from Ethiopia. Flavor Fragr J 15:123–125
Demsew S, Asfaw N (1994) Some useful indigenous labiates from Ethiopia. Lmiales Newsletter 3:5
Dagne E, Hailu S, Bisrat D, Worku T (1998) Constituents of the essential oil of Thymus schimperi. Bull Chem Soc Ethiop 12:79–82
Malcolm JR, Tefera Z (2009) Chapter 7 conservation of afroalpine habitats. Available at www.canids.org/.../EWAP%20Chapter%207%20Habitat%20Conservation.pdf. Accessed 28 March 2009
Debebe D, Debella A, Urga K (2003) Medicinal plants and other useful plants of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Health and Nutritional Institute, Berhanena Selam Printing Press, Addis, Ababa
World Health Organization (2002) Traditional medicine strategy. WHO, Geneva
Abebe D, Ayehu A (1993) Medicinal plants and enigmatic health practices of northern Ethiopia. Berhanena Selam Printing Press, Addis Ababa
The National Academy of Sciences (1989) Trace elements: diet and health: implications for reducing chronic disease risk. Available at www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309039940&page=367. Accessed 2 Feb 2009
Health effects of exposure to heavy metals (2009). Available at www.bewellrx.com/articles/health-effects-of-exposure-to-heavy-metals/. Accessed 2 Feb 2009
Goyer R, Golub M, Choudhury H, Hughes M, Kenyon E, Stifelman M (2009) Issue paper on the human health effects of metals. Available at www.epa.gov/raf/publications/pdfs/humanhealtheffects81904.pdf. Accessed 2 Feb 2009
Hashmi DR, Ismail S, Shaikh GH (2007) Assessment of the level trace metals in commonly edible vegetables locally available in the market of Karachi city. Pak J Bot 39:747–751
Oyedele DJ, Asonugho C, Awotoye OO (2006) Heavy metals in soils and accumulation by edible vegetables after phosphate fertilizer application. Electron J Environ Agric Food Chem 5:1446–1453
Aiwonegbe AE, Ikhuoria EU (2007) Levels of selected heavy metals in some Nigerian vegetables. Trends in Applied Sciences Research 2:76–79
Nnorom IC, Osibanjo O, Ogugua K (2007) Trace heavy metal levels of some Bouillon cubes and food condiments readily consumed in Nigeria. Pak J Nut 6:122–127
Okator EC, Nwajei GE (2007) Metal contents in water and aquatic plant (Macaranga hendelotic) from Ororiner around Nigerian cement factory, Nkalagn. Res J Bio Sci 2:85–88
Ghdam R, Khanki J, Yunesian M, Mahvi AH, Nazmara S (2005) Trace metal contaminants in Iranian flat breads. J Agric Soc Sci 1:301–303
Gulfraz M, Ahmed T, Afzal H (2001) Concentration levels of heavy and trace metals in the fish and Mangla lakes. Online J Biol Sci 1:414–416
Khan SA, Ahmad I, Mohajir MS (2006) Evaluation of mineral contents of some edible medicinal plants. Pak J Pharm Sci 19:148–152
Nielson SS (2003) Food analysis, 3rd edn. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York
Dean JR (1997) Atomic absorption and plasma spectroscopy, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester
Miller JN, Miller JC (2000) Statistics and chemometrics for analytical chemistry, 4th edn. Pearson Education Limited, Harlow
Ciftici H, Olcucu A, Ciftici T (2007) The determination of nickel in some plants with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Int J Sci Technol 2:105–108
Ozkutulu F, Sekeroglu N, Metinkara S (2006) Monitoring of cadmium and micronutrients in spices commonly consumed in Turkey. Res J Agr Bio Sci 2:223–226
Magnesium.asp (2009). Available at www.ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp. Accessed 20 April 2009
Wikipedia (2009) Human iron metabolism—Wikipedia. Available at www.en.wikipedia.org/wikihumaniron-metabolism. Accessed 22 June 2009
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to the Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, for providing the laboratory facilities. Awraris Derbie is thankful to Department of Chemistry, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia, for sponsoring his study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Derbie, A., Chandravanshi, B.S. Concentration Levels of Selected Metals in the Leaves of Different Species of Thyme (T. schimperi and T. vulgaris) Grown in Ethiopia. Biol Trace Elem Res 141, 317–328 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8732-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8732-z