LEAD AND STRONTIUM ISOTOPE EVIDENCE FOR LOCAL HERBAL VARIETIES DUE TO THE ELEMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY
Biljana Balabanova and Liping Fan
Biljana Balabanova: Faculty of Agriculture, Goce Delcev University, The Republic of North Macedonia.
Liping Fan: College of Information Engineering, Shenyang, University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate lead and strontium composition (total content and isotope ratios) in several herbal species: rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), basil (Ocimum basilicum), sage (Salvia officinalis), yellow wort (Blackstonia perfoliate) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) with regional occurrence in the area of the Republic of North Macedonia. Furthermore, the elements’ isotope ratios were corelated with the average data for the corresponding elements in soil samples (top layer). Samples of yellow wort (Blackstonia perfoliate) were used for comparative analysis to the same species obtained in market in China. Several metrics has been applied for authenticity testing of the samples: total lead and strontium content, as well as lead and strontium isotopic ratios. Element content was measured with validated method for isotopic measurement with inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Keywords: Isotopic measurement, Lead, Strontium, Soil chemistry, ICP-MS