Application of X-ray Fluorescence and Radiation Methods for the Analysis of Medicinal Plant Raw Materials on the Example of Achilleae millefolii herba

Introduction. Environmental monitoring is an important area of modern scientific research. This is due to the anthropogenic impact on the environment, which often negatively affects the diversity of the Russian medicinal flora. The use of modern instrumental analytical methods of medicinal plant raw materials is relevant due to the intensive development of science. The content of heavy metals, the elemental composition and the level of background radiation are important characteristics of ecological purity and safety of medicinal plant raw materials. These characteristics are of interest for assessing the possibility of harvesting and using medicinal plants at localization. The generally accepted instructions for harvesting were used.

Aim. Investigation of the possibilities of using X-ray fluorescence and radiation methods for environmental monitoring of medicinal plant raw materials.

Materials and methods. The research object was Achilleae millefolii herba. The harvestment of plant raw materials was carried out in the Bardymsky, Chernushinsky, Uinsky, Kishertsky, Oktyabrsky, Suksunsky, Ordinsky, Sivinsky districts of the Perm Region in the summer in 2022–2023. The X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XFA) ARL QUANT'X EDXRF was used to determine heavy metals and assess the elemental composition of plants. The analysis was carried out according to the methodology that was developed by scientists of the Pharmacognosy Department at the Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy. The radiation background in raw materials was assessed by using a special dosimeter RADEX RD1503.

Results and discussion. As a result, it was found that harvesting of Achilleae millefolii herba is possible in the Perm Region studied areas. Bardymsky, Uinsky, Kishertsky, Ordinsky, Chernushinsky districts are the most recommended for harvesting plant raw materials. Samples from these areas are ecological purity and safe for use as medicinal raw materials and have a diverse elemental composition. The content of heavy metals does not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations according to the regulatory documentation requirements. The background radiation level does not exceed the threshold value compared to other areas in the Russian Federation.

Conclusion. X-ray fluorescence analysis is a suitable and reliable analytical method for determining elements in plant raw materials. XFA is a multi-element express method that allows analyzing a sample with minimal sample preparation. The advantages of the method are good reproducibility, high sensitivity, and efficiency. Research continues.

1. Salehi B., Selamoglu Z., Sevindik M., Fahmy N. M. et al. Achillea spp.: A comprehensive review on its ethnobotany, phytochemistry, phytopharmacology and industrial applications. Cellular and Molecular Biology. 2020;66(4):78–103. DOI: 10.14715/cmb/2020.66.4.13

2. Strzępek-Gomółka M., Gaweł-Bęben K., Kukula-Koch W. Achillea Species as Sources of Active Phytochemicals for Dermatological and Cosmetic Applications. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021:6643827. DOI: 10.1155/2021/6643827.

3. Kalikina I. Yu., Turyshev A. Yu. Research of quality indicators of raw materials of wild medicinal plants of the Perm Region. Perm’: Sbornik materialov nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem. Vestnik Permskoy gosudarstvennoy farmatsevticheskoy akademii. 2021;1:102–105. (In Russ.)

4. Vas’kova A. I., Kurkin V. A. Development of approaches to standardization of the herb common yarrow. Pharmacy. 2022;71(4):12–18. (In Russ.)

5. Efremov A. A., Zykova I. D. Antiradical activity of extractive substances of yarrow from the Siberian region. Chemistry of plant materials. 2021;2:129–135. (In Russ.)

6. Eliseeva T., Tkacheva N. Yarrow (Achilléa). Zhurnal zdorovogo pitaniya i dietologii. 2018;2(4):11–22. DOI: 10.59316/.vi4.17. (In Russ.)

7. Kakhramanova S. D., Bokov D. O., Gravel’ I. V., Samylina I. A. Elemental composition of breast collection No. 1 and its components. Pharmacy. 2022;71(8):21–27. (In Russ.)

8. Marukhlenko A. V., Maksimova T. V., Pleteneva T. V., Morozova M. A. Development and validation of a method for the quantitative determination of zinc in its chelate complexes using energydispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Drug development & registration. 2021;10(4):154–161. (In Russ.)

9. Makarova M. P., Syroeshkin A. V., Maksimova T. V., Matveeva I. S., Features of express determination of microelements in medicinal and informal plants. Drug development & registration. 2019;8(2):93–97. (In Russ.)

10. D’yakova N. A., Slivkin A. I., Gaponov S. P. Control of radiation safety and quality of medicinal plant raw materials in the Voronezh region using the example of burdock roots. Drug development & registration. 2019;8(1):73–77. (In Russ.)

11. Shreter A. I. Rules for harvesting and drying medicinal plants (collection of instructions). Moscow: Meditsina, 1985. 328 p. (In Russ.)

12. Vlasov A. S., Belonogova V. D., Kuritsyn A. V. Assessment of the ecological safety of medicinal plant raw materials in some areas of the Perm Region. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya. 2014;5:770. (In Russ.)

13. Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation dated November 14, 2001 No. 36 (as amended on July 6, 2011) "On the implementation of the Sanitary Rules". (Registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 22, 2002 No. 3326.) (In Russ.)

14. Titov A. F., Kaznina N. M., Karapetyan T. A., Dorshakova N. V. The effect of lead on living organisms. Zhurnal obshchey biologii. 2020.81(2):147–160. (In Russ.)

15. Gurcieva D. A., Nejolova O. V. The biological role of magnesium and its compounds in medicine. Uspehi sovremennogo estestvoznanija. 2014.8:165–166 (In Russ.).

16. Study of resources, assessment of the quality of raw materials, phytoecological mapping of wild medicinal plants of the Perm region. [Dissertation.] Permian. 2014. (In Russ.)

17. Trisvetova E. L. The role of zinc in human life. Fundamental’naja medicina. 2021;9:37–42. (In Russ.).

18. Tmenova A. O., Kubalova L. M. The biological role of manganese and its compounds. Sovremennye naukoemkie tehnologii. 2014;7(2):92–92. (In Russ.)

19. Kolieva D. O., Neelova O. V. The biological role of iron and its detection in pharmaceutical preparations. Uspehi sovremennogo estestvoznanija. 2011;11:100–100. (In Russ.)