What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to assess the levels of heavy metals and essential minerals in medicinal plants from roadside areas and evaluate the potential health risks associated with consumption.

June 29, 2026Open Access

Toxic metal accumulation in medicinal plants collected from roadside environments: Implications for human consumption

AMAlbama MilaimiNational University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine LBLiridon BuqajUniversity for Business and Technology YSYllka ShehdadiUniversity of Prishtina

Key Points

The study aims to assess the levels of heavy metals and essential minerals in medicinal plants from roadside areas and evaluate the potential health risks associated with consumption.
Collected plant samples from roadside environments in Prizren, Kosovo.
Measured concentrations of minerals and heavy metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).
Conducted health risk assessment using methods such as estimated daily intake and target hazard quotient values.
Higher concentrations of chromium and nickel were found in Convolvulus arvensis, exceeding WHO/FAO limits.
Silybum marianum showed elevated levels of essential minerals.
Health risk assessment indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk for adult consumers under the assumed consumption scenario.

Abstract

Medicinal plants can absorb heavy metals from the environment, which may pose risks to human health when consumed. These elements can negatively affect plant growth and metabolism by disrupting key physiological and biochemical processes. This study aimed to evaluate environmental conditions and determine the concentrations of selected minerals (Ca, K, Na and Mg) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) in three medicinal plant species Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Achillea millefolium L. and Convolvulus arvensis L., as well as to assess potential human health risks associated with their consumption. Plant samples were collected from roadside areas in the municipality of Prizren, Kosovo, and elemental concentrations were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results revealed species-dependent variability in both mineral and heavy metal concentrations. S. marianum exhibited elevated levels of several essential minerals, whereas C. arvensis showed a higher accumulation potential for chromium and nickel, exceeding the permissible WHO/FAO limits. Correlation analysis indicated both synergistic and antagonistic relationships between minerals and heavy metals, suggesting shared sources of contamination and element-specific uptake mechanisms. Health risk assessment based on estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk for adult consumers under the assumed consumption scenario. Nevertheless, the accumulation of certain toxic elements highlights the importance of regular environmental monitoring and preliminary assessment of medicinal plants harvested from roadside environments. Future studies should also include heavy metal content and physicochemical properties of soils from harvesting sites to better understand plant-soil interactions and contamination pathways.

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