HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF LEMON BALM (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.) CULTIVATED ON HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATED SOILS
HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF LEMON BALM (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.) CULTIVATED ON HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATED SOILS

Author(s): Violina Angelova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Economy
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: Contaminated soils; Essential oil composition; Heavy metals; Lemon balm.
Summary/Abstract: Comparative research has been conducted to allow us to determine the content of heavy metals and chemical composition of lemon balm oils, as well as to identify the possibility of lemon balm growth on soils contaminated by heavy metals. The experimental plots were situated at different distances of 0.5 km, and 15 km, respectively, from the source of pollution the Non-Ferrous-Metal Works (MFMW) near Plovdiv, Bulgaria. On reaching the flowering stage the lemon balm plants were gathered. The content of heavy metals in leaves of lemon balm was determined by ICP. The essential oils of the lemon balm were obtained by steam distillation in laboratory conditions which were analyzed for heavy metals and chemical composition was determined. Lemon balm is a plant that is tolerant to heavy metals and can be grown on contaminated soils. Heavy metals do not affect the development of lemon balm and the quality and quantity of oil obtained from it. Forty components were identified in the oils. The quantity of identified compounds corresponds to 98.82-98.83% of the total oil content. Among the detected compounds, beta-citral (neral) (19.31-20.78%), alfa-citral (geranial) (18,65-19,12%), β-caryophyllene (14.76-16.28%), α-cadinol (3.88-4.74%), geranyl acetate (3.49-3.59%), trans-geraniol (3.40-3.51%), germacrene (3.18-3.28%), citronellal (2.94-3.03%), nerol (2.63-2.71%), neryl acetate (2.42 -2.49%) were the major compounds. The essential oil of Melissa officinalis L. can be a valuable product for farmers from polluted regions.

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