Fatty Acid Composition and Potentially Toxic Element Content of Helichrysum plicatum and Rumex scutatus

Although some plants that grow naturally in the wild are known among the general public for their use in treating various diseases, these species also stand out for their ability to adapt to degraded areas. The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid composition and potentially toxic element concentrations in the species Helichrysum plicatum DC. and Rumex scutatus L., which grow naturally near an iron mine in Bingöl Province. The fatty acid composition and concentrations of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of the species were determined. In addition, translocation factor (TF) values, which indicate the transfer of these elements to above-ground organs were calculated. While palmitic acid (C 16:0) was the main fatty acid component in all organs of the species, the concentrations of As, Cr, and Fe exceeded the permissible limit in some organs of both species, while the Zn concentration remained below the permissible limit. In terms of the translocation factor (TF) values for the species, TF>1 was calculated for all elements in Helichrysum plicatum except Cr, and TF>1 was calculated for all elements in Rumex scutatus. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) and the Pearson correlation matrix showed that some unsaturated fatty acids were negatively correlated with toxic element concentrations. It should be noted that the fatty acid composition of plants under stress may change, and that while plant species growing spontaneously in anthropogenic areas may be of interest for their medicinal and aromatic properties, their toxic element content could pose a risk. Furthermore, the phytoremediation capacity of these species with respect to the elements examined (for results where TF>1) should be evaluated in more detailed studies.