DETERMINATION OF MINERAL CONTENTS IN THE INFUSIONS OF TWO SPECIES OF SOUTH AMERICAN MISTLETOES

GIMÉNEZ, CECILIA; CRAVZOV, ALICIA; DEL VITTO, LUIS A.; MARCHEVSKY, EDUARDO JORGE; PELLERANO, ROBERTO G.

Rosario

Congreso; 2º Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas; 2012

Loranthaceae includes approximately 73 genera and 915 species, representing the largest mistletoe family (1). In this work we study the mineral composition of two species included in this family, Ligaria cuneifolia and Tripodhantus flagellaris. These species are widely used in Argentinean folk medicine because of its cardiovascular effects (antihypertensive) (2). In this context, many herbal infusions (teas) are being studied for their impact on health, yet little research has examined their mineral content. Raw plant materials are derived from sources subject to action of natural biogeochemical environment and may be easily contaminated with pesticides, microbial contaminants, heavy metals, chemical toxins, and adulterated during growth and processing. For this reason, accessibility studies seem to be interesting as the total elemental concentration in herbs and infusions would be helpful for obtaining a realistic picture of the human intake of these elements.