Inorganic elements content in all parts of comfrey (Symphytum species): Is comfrey a safe raw material for medicinal use?
Original scientific paper 
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Authors:
State University of Novi Pazar, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Vuka Karadžića 9, Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia
State University of Novi Pazar, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Vuka Karadžića 9, Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia
State University of Novi Pazar, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Vuka Karadžića 9, Novi Pazar, Republic of Serbia
University of Niš, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics
Višegradska 33, Niš, Republic of Serbia
University of Niš, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics
Višegradska 33, Niš, Republic of Serbia
DOI: 10.46793/KgJSci2601005S
Volume: 26 | Issue: 1 | Year: 2026 | Pages: 5-14
ABSTRACT:
This study systematically investigated the inorganic elemental composition (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, V, and Zn) of individual plant parts of comfrey, a medicinal plant collected from three locations in Serbia. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was employed to determine the elemental composition of gavez. Statistical evaluation was performed using Spearman’s rank correlation. Potassium was the most abundant macroelement (39.5 mg/g) in the Symphytum tuberosum (flower F2), while Na was the least abundant (0.112 mg/g) microelements in the Symphytum officinale (flower F3). The levels of lead and cadmium were below the maximum limits prescribed by EU Commission regulations for medicinal plants. Toxic elements correlated more strongly with microelements than macroelements. Overall, the results showed that the plant analyzed do not pose a risk to human health.
Keywords: medicinal plant, elemental composition, ICP-OES, comfrey, WHO.
This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0 |
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