@conference{
author = "Mikavica, Ivana and Ranđelović, Dragana and Ilić, Miloš and Mutić, Jelena",
year = "2024",
abstract = "Owing to mild properties, wide availability, and low reported side effects, medicinal herbs have
been traditionally utilized for thousands of years as a folk remedy, while almost 80% of the world
population consumes it as a medical supplement of primary healthcare (WHO). Despite widespread
distribution and a broad spectrum of benefits for human health, Capsella bursa-pastoris L. Medik is
an underexplored medicinal species with a recorded significant accumulation capacity for
potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the present study, we investigated the abundance and mobility
of PTEs (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, and Zn) in the urban soil - C. bursa-pastoris system and
comprehensively evaluated potential posing human health risks. Samples were collected in four
Serbian cities – Belgrade, Bor, Vršac, and Sremska Mitrovica. PTEs concentrations in samples were
determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The
pseudo-total concentrations in soils surpassed the world mean levels. Cu, Zn, Sr, and Mn were the
most abundant, whereby the calculated Igeo index suggested moderate to heavy soil contamination.
Non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic risks (CR) associated with the ingestion, dermal, and
inhalation exposure to the examined soils were within the acceptable ranges (HI < 1, CR < 10-6).
Although Sr, Cu, and Ni contents were elevated in the plant tissues (roots - up to 57.04 mg kg-1, 23.36 mg kg-1, and 7.90 mg kg-1, and shoots – up to 60.78 mg kg-1, 20.21 mg kg-1 and 6.26 mg kg1), estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR)
demonstrated non-significant health risks by consuming C. bursa-pastoris, as a raw herb or herbal
extracts. This study aimed to underscore the urgency of the PTEs' continual monitoring in soils and
medicinal plants and highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive health risk assessments
in providing safe medicinal plant utilization.",
publisher = "Belgrade : University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture",
journal = "3rd International UNIfood Conference",
title = "Human health risk assessment of PTEs in Capsella bursa-pastoris and its extracts",
pages = "142-142"
}