Ceyda Nur YALÇIN, Recep KARA, Ömer HAZMAN
Food and Health - 2026;12(1):31-38
Nowadays, environmental pollution from rapid industrialisation leads to the breakdown of heavy metals in food. Exceeding certain levels of these heavy metals poses a serious threat to humans. In this study, the presence of heavy metals and differences in oxidant -antioxidant activity were investigated in a total of 80 samples, 20 of which were used for medicinal purposes (sage, linden, thyme, green tea) by herbalists/markets in the city centres of Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya. In the study, the levels of metal content, Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were determined. Metal contents were determined using the ICP-OES instrument. As a result of the research, although it was determined that the plant samples did not contain arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), different levels of Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, Tl, Ti, V, Zn It was seen at the end of the analysis that it contains. The highest TAS, TOS and OSI values were detected in green tea samples. There is a statistical difference between TAS, TOS, and OSI values (p < 0.05). As a result, the unconscious use of herbal teas should be avoided; if used carelessly, they can cause adverse health effects, and specific standards for human nutrition should be set for each plant species.
