Mineral contents in leaves and stems of Cordia verbenacea L

Cordia verbenaceae L. native to Brazil is known as “erva-baleeira” and traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agent [1]. The active compounds may vary due to factors like the cropping system [2]. The aim of this study was to analyze the contents of macronutrients, micronutrients and heavy metals in leaves and stems of C. verbenaceae cultivated in organic system. Seedlings of C. verbenacea were obtained from germoplasm bank of CQPBA-UNICAMP and were cultivated in Experimental Farm of EPAMIG, Oratórios, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Aerial parts were harvest in July, stems and leaves were segregated, refrigerated at -6^oC for 3 days and lyophilized. The mineral constituents analyze was adapted of Nacari et al. methodology [3], with analytical dosage of K, Ca, Mg, Se, Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, Pb, As, Cr, Co. The leaves contain (mg/kg): 0,891 of Cr; 2,260 of Ni; 0,853 of As; 1,689 of Se; 0,149 of Cd; 0,401 of Pb; 48,263of Na; 434,949 of Mg; 710,036 of K; 161,656 of Ca; 181,259 of Mn; 169,143 of Fe and 37,047 of Cu. The stems contained (mg/kg): 0,484 of Cr; 1,724 of Ni; 0,245 of As; 0,597 of Se; 0,173 of Cd; 0,367 of Pb; 55,321 of Na; 462,144 of Mg; 736,460 of K; 366,164 of Ca; 20,781 of Mn; 5,648 of Fe and 40,313 of Cu. The K content is important in anti-inflammatory active, well as Ca, that influence muscle contraction, in coagulation cascade, the osmotic balance. The content of Se is twice the leaves than in the stem, which may denote another use of leaves Cordia as an antioxidant or stimulator of brain functions. The heavy metal contents are low indicating good agroecological farming.

Acknowledgements: CNPQ, FAPEMIG, PANLAB-UNIME, SCIENCE4LIFE SRL.

Keywords: Medicinal plant, Cordia verbenaceae L, mineral analysis, organic system.

References:

[1] Fernandes ES, Passos GF, Medeiros R, da Cunha FM. Ferreira J, Campos MM, Pianowski LF, Calixto JB. Anti-inflammatory effects of compounds alpha-humulene and (-)-trans caryophyllene isolated from the essential oil of Cordia verbenacea. Eur J Pharmacol 2007; 569: 228 – 236

[2] Hernández D, Orozco J, Serrano R. Temporal variation of chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roemer and Schultes: Boraginaceae. Bol Latinoam Caribe Plant Med Aromat 2014; 13: 100 – 108

[3] Naccari C, Cicero N, Ferrantelli V, Giangroßo G, Vella A, Macaluso A, Naccari F, Dugo G. Toxic Metals in Pelagic, Benthic and Demersal Fish Species from Mediterranean FAO Zone 37. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2015; 95: 567 – 573