Fractional composition of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) compounds in medicinal plants of the Rostov and Novosibirsk Oblasts

Abstract

Introduction. In Russia, approximately 40% of the herbal medicinal products used are manufactured from wild-growing plant raw materials. Therefore, the need to account for the ecological status of such raw materials remains highly relevant. At the same time, the fractional composition of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) compounds in medicinal plants growing in impacted areas remains insufficiently studied, which limits the ability to assess their safety for the production of herbal medicine.
Aim. To evaluate the fractional composition of Cu, Cr, and Pb compounds in wild‑growing medicinal plants from the Rostov and Novosibirsk regions and to identify the influence of regional and anthropogenic factors on the distribution of these elements.
Materials and methods. The research studied plant species belonging to Asteraceae, Plantaginaceae, Papaveraceae and Urticaceae families. The fractional composition of the elements in samples was determined using Siromlya’s original method.
Results. For Cr and Cu, the aqueous fraction (FI) predominated over the aqueous‑alcoholic fraction (FII), whereas for Pb, the opposite pattern was observed — the majority of the element was found in FII. The hydrochloric acid fraction (FIII) dominated in all the studied species. Cu exhibited the highest mobility, while Cr showed the lowest mobility. A significant increase in the metal content was noted mainly in the first two fractions corresponding to the extraction methods used in the preparation of herbal medicines.
Conclusion. The distribution of metals in plants was determined both by the chemical properties of the elements themselves and by the biological characteristics of the species. The findings may be used in the revision and clarification of the regulations of the State Pharmacopoeia. A promising area for further research is to expand the geographical scope of monitoring and the range of elements analyzed.

To cite: Chaplygin V.A., Siromlya T.I., Chernikova N.P., Barakhov A.V., Smekhunov A.V., Badmaeva A.A., Keswani Ch., Mandzhieva S.S., Minkina T.M. Fractional composition of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) compounds in medicinal plants of the Rostov and Novosibirsk Oblasts. Agrarian Bulletin of the North Caucasus. 2026;16(2):81-96. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31279/2949-4796-2026-16-2-81-96