Mineral element content of some herbs with antiinflammatory effect used in gastrointestinal diseases

Abstract

Introduction: In gastrointestinal diseases folk medicine usually recommends herbs and teas with antiinflammatory activities, especially mucilage and bitter agent containing plants. The use of stomatics as adjuvant therapy in medical practice is frequent. Aim: The authors explored the mineral element content of some herbs, because mineral elements may have significant role in the development and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and a close connection between the presence or absence of mineral elements and inflammatoric mediators was noted. Methods: The mineral content in Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Farfarae folium et flos, Taraxaci radix and Cichorii radix and teas prepared from these herbs was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results were evaluated from nutritional and biomedical points of view. Results:Farfarae folium et flos tea was found to be a rich source of calcium, chromium, manganese and molybdenum. Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Taraxaci radix and Cichorii radix displayed favourable calcium to magnesium ratio (1–1.5) and they contained other elements (manganese, iron, copper, zinc) which may have significant role in the immune defence system. Conclusion: The beneficial therapeutic effect of the studied herbs may be related to their mineral element content. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 538–543.