ISHS Acta Horticulturae 749: I International Symposium on Chamomile Research, Development and Production
MEDICINAL PLANTS - PAST, NOWADAYS, FUTURE |
| Authors: | E. Masarovičová, K. Kráľová |
| Keywords: | biofortification, food safety, history, metal hyperaccumulators, phytotherapy, phytoremediation, phytotechnologies, toxic metals, traditional medicine |
| Abstract:
Medicinal plants exhibit phytotherapeutic effects caused by biologically active compounds – specific secondary metabolites formed in the processes of the secondary metabolism. Their use has been already dated in the term before Christ. The Ebers’ Papyrus (1500 BCE) contained many prescriptions with medicinal plants. In the Europe, the Greeks and Romans started with the scientific study of medicinal plants. During many centuries the herbalists transferred theoretical knowledge and practical experiences concerning medicinal plants to the next generations. Anthropogenic activity and its effects on environment recently showed that medicinal plants have responded to the changing environmental conditions. Some medicinal plants produce specific secondary metabolites that can detoxify some of toxic metals. Hypericum perforatum and Matricaria recutita are cadmium hyperaccumulators because they accumulate in their shoots over 100 µg g-1 d.m. This property can be used in the future in phytoremediation technologies. Moreover, the biomass of medicinal plants remaining after drug isolation can be utilized in organic fertilisers and pesticide preparations. In recent years the practical use of alternative medicine in healing processes has become increasingly popular. Several species of medicinal plants can be used as supplementary nutrition due to their ability to accumulate some essential nutrition elements (e.g. Se, Zn, and Fe) in the edible parts of these plants (so called phytofortification). This could help to feed the rapidly increasing world population and improve human health through balanced mineral nutrition. In general, data related to toxic metal contents (e.g. Cd) in pharmaceutically utilized parts of the medicinal plants are also considered from the aspect of “food safety”. | |
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