Presence of major and trace elements in seven medicinal plants growing in the South-Eastern Desert, Egypt

Many Egyptian plants are known to be of potential medicinal value and are used in herbal medicine. Seven of the most important medicinal plants in the literature on Egyptian traditional and popular medicine are ‘Halfa barr’ (Cympobogon proximus), ‘Salam’ (Acacia ehrenbergiana), ‘Kharaaz’ (Acacia albida), ‘Ghalqa’ (Pergularia tomentosa), ‘Argel’ (Solenostemma arghel), ‘Hegleeg’ (Balanites aegyptiaca) and ‘Handal’ (Citrullus colocynthis). These seven plants and the soils in which they were growing were analysed for minor (Zn, Cu, Se, Mn and Fe) and major elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg), among which selenium ranging from 0.058 to 0.600 (mg kg−1) was found to be present at trace levels in all the plants studied. The highest concentration was that of zinc, ranging from 15.4 to 73.7 (mg kg−1). Although some plants were found to accumulate elements, their contents are still below the international safety limits for both human and animal consumption.