Determination of Some Heavy Metals and Phytochemical Analyses of Teucrium Polium (Lamiaceae) Plant Used as a Traditional Medicine

Despite advances in medical science, Libya, like many other countries, maintains a healthcare system that includes complementary and alternative medicine. In this study, heavy metals and phytochemicals were analyzed in Teucrium polium. Plants produce chemicals known as secondary metabolites, or phytocompounds, which accumulate in different parts of the plant and can be potential sources of new drugs, including phenolic compounds, steroids, coumarins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Heavy metal levels were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). Additionally, qualitative analyses were performed to detect the presence of phenolic substances, gelatin, terpenoids, tannins, steroids, and saponins. The study results indicated that heavy metals, including iron, nickel, copper, zinc, and cadmium, were found in the tea extract of T. polium, while elements such as iron, copper, zinc, nickel, manganese, cadmium, and chromium were present in the acid digest extract of T. polium. Furthermore, the findings show that the concentrations of phytochemicals such as terpenoids and phenolics are higher, while tannins, gelatin, and steroids are present in medium amounts, and saponins occur in low amounts. Due to its high concentration of phytochemical compounds, T. polium L. is believed to have greater medicinal value than synthetic drugs with side effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

heavy metals ، phytochemicals ، Phytocompounds ، Teucrium polium L ، Traditional drugs