THE STUDY OF THE MACRO- AND MICROELEMENT COMPOSITION IN FLOWERS OF CHAMOMILE (MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA L.) BY ICP-MS METHOD

Abstract

Samples of Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) flowers collected from the northern slope of the Kamchik Pass were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The qualitative and quantitative composition of a total of 50 elements was determined in the studied plant samples. Of the identified elements, 5 are macroelements, 42 are microelements, and 3 are toxic elements. The content of the following macroelements was determined in the studied parts of the chamomile plants: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, as well as the following microelements: iron, strontium, aluminum, barium, copper, titanium, zinc, manganese, chromium, rubidium. The content of macroelements increases in the following order: Na < P < Mg < Ca < K. Potassium accounts for ⁓58.6% of the macroelements. For convenience, trace elements detected in the sample in quantities greater than 1 μg/g can be divided into three ranges: 1–10 μg/g, 10–100 μg/g, and 100–1000 μg/g, which are arranged in the following order of increasing overall abundance: V < Se < Li < Mo < Cr < Ba < Ni < Cu < Rb < B < Zn < Ti < Mn < Sr < Al < Fe. The toxic elements detected include lead, arsenic, and cadmium. It has been established that chamomile flowers contain a rich supply of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, essential nutrients for the human body. However, the level of toxic elements in these flowers is significantly lower than average literature data, due to the fact that the samples were collected from an ecologically clean region.