Abstract Book - 3rd International Symposium on Medicinal Plants ...

y 22.8% and 50.5%, respectively compared to the control. Furthermore, a high Zn accumulation
in the plantlet tissues which varied from 121μg/g dry matter (DM) in the control to 2580 µg/g (DM)
in the presence of 1000 µM Zn was noticed. Consequently, Paulownia tomentosa could be
considered as a bio-indicator and Zn accumulator medicinal plant.
Key words: In vitro propagation, Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.), phytoremediation, ZnSO 4 .Steud.
7.3 Heavy Metals in Medicinal, Aromatic and Spicy Plants
Kacharava Tamar, Kacharava K., and Koiava l.,
Biotecnology Centre of Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: The object of our research was the medical, aromatic and spicy plants: Valeriana
officinalis, Valeriana alliariifolia, Origanium vulgare, Vaccinium myrtillus, Rhododendron
Caucasicum and the soil cover of 10-30 cm depth. Fifteen heavy metals content were defined in
the areas of Georgia. The pollution level of medical, aromatic and spicy plants and soil with the
heavy metals were ascertained according to regions on a basis of comparison with the maximum
allowable concentrations that will enable us to produce clean, high-quality phytomaterials that are
demanded on the domestic market as well as has the high export potential.
Key words: Aromatic plant, heavy metals, spicy.
7.4 Essential and Toxic Elements Distribution in the System Teucrium
Speies/ Serpentine Soils in Bulgaria
Karadjva Irina 1 , Pavlova Dolja 2 , and Krasteva Ilina 3
1 Department of Analytical chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Farmacy, University of Sofia, blvd.
J. Bouchier 1, 1164 Sofia. 2 Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia, blvd.
Dragan Tzankov 8, 1164 Sofia. 3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical
University, 2 Dunav str., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Medicinal plants play a significant role in providing primary health care services to
rural people and are used by about 80% of the communities living in mountains in Bulgaria. An
average of 6 000 tons of herbs are gathered annually, most of which represents natural plant
resources. The increased interest in, and constantly expanding use of, the medicinal plants
clearly raises questions about the state and capacity of their populations from one side and
their quality control from other side. Ultramafic (serpentine) soils typically host a distinctive flora
and vegetation, largely affected by the edaphic and physical characters of these soils.
Teucrium species widely used as medicinal plants are typical excluders well distributed and
acclimatized with “difficult” conditions of serpentine soils. The aim of present study is to
establish distribution of essential and toxic elements in Teucrium species as well as in their
rhizosphere soil samples. Based on the results obtained after various extraction steps, the real
and potential acidity and redox potential of the soils, uptake, mobility, and bioavailability of
essential and toxic elements are discussed. Correlations between mobile ion concentrations in
soil solution and metal concentration in usually used tea infusions or water/methanol extracts
are presented. Correlations between toxic elements content and flavonoids levels are studied.
Conclusions on toxicity and applicability of Teucrium species from serpentine soils as medicinal
plants are defined.
Key words: Medicinal plants, redox potential, serpentine, Teucrium speies, toxic elements.
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