Interciencia ISSN: 0378-1844 [email protected] Asociación Interciencia Venezuela Olivares, Elizabeth; Peña, Eder Fluoride and metals in byrsonima crassifolia, a medicinal tree from the neotropical savannahs Interciencia, vol. 29, núm. 3, marzo, 2004, pp. 145-152 Asociación Interciencia Caracas, Venezuela Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=33909006 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative FLUORIDE AND METALS IN Byrsonima crassifolia, A MEDICINAL TREE FROM THE NEOTROPICAL SAVANNAHS Elizabeth Olivares and Eder Peña SUMMARY The concentration of fluoride (F) in relation to mineral ele- the content of F was high compared to the normal range in ments (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Al, Pb and Cd) plants. The difference in concentrations of F, Fe, Al and Pb was and total phenols was evaluated in leaves of Byrsonima highly significant by leaf age and site. In other species, a positive crassifolia. Young, adult and fallen leaves were sampled in a gar- correlation of F to Al and total phenols, and a negative correla- den located outside an aluminium factory in Bolivar State, Venezu- tion to Ca has been reported, while in the present paper a posi- ela and in two sites in the savannah about 5 and 8km away from tive correlation of F to Al, Ca and Fe, but not with total phenols the Al-smelter in the direction of the wind. A positive linear re- was found in B. crassifolia. The presence of metal-fluorine com- gression of F with Mn, Fe, Pb, Al, Ca, Mg, Cr and Zn was found pounds that can be released during medicinal infusions has not for young and adult leaves. Leaves were sampled in two more dis- been previously reported in this species. Washing the leaves with tant sites (B1, B2) and in a contrasting site (M) at a region with- water showed that a high proportion of F and minerals was out Al mining or factories. In the vicinity of the smelter and in B1 present on the surface of the leaf and/or the trichomes. Introduction blocked the citrate cycle. from Australia contain up to readily to the soil and plants. Fluoracetate is found at low 137mmol·kg-1 fluoracetate Atmospheric pollution and Fluorine is the most abun- concentrations in a wide vari- (O’Hagan and Harper, 1999). repeated application of fertil- dant halogen in the earth’s ety of plants, however it is According to Arnesen (1997) izers and soil amendments, crust, but only six fluorinated accumulated at very high con- the maximum recommended such as phosphatic fertilizers natural products have been centrations (421, 342 and limit for fluorine content in and phosphogypsum, increase isolated, excluding fatty acid 26mmol·kg-1 on a dry weight hay and pasture grass is the total F concentration in homologues (O’Hagan and basis, respectively) in seeds 1.6mmol·kg-1. soils because they contain up Harper, 1999). The first or- of Dichapetalum braunii from Inorganic fluorine is present to 3.5% of F as impurities ganic fluorine compound Tanzania, Gastrolobium bilo- in plants mainly as metal- (Stevens et al., 1997). A high identified, in 1943, was fluo- bum from Australia and Pali- fluorine compounds (Baroni correlation between F emis- racetate, which may cause courea marcgravii from South Fornasiero, 2001). It is the sion levels from Al-smelters death in grazing animals, be- America, presumably for pur- most electronegative element in Norway and F accumula- cause it is transferred to poses of defense. Not only and binds metals forming tion in pine and spruce fluorocitrate and irreversibly seeds can be toxic, as leaves complexes (fluorides, hereun- needles has been reported bound to aconitase, thereby of Oxylobium parviflorum der F), which are adsorbed (Horntvedt, 1995). KEYWORDS / Aluminium / Fluoride / Iron / Nutrients / Pollution / Received: 09/24/2003. Modified: 02/16/2004. Accepted: 02/27/2004. Elizabeth Olivares. Ph.D. in Bio- IVIC. Address: Centro de Eco- Eder Peña. Bachelor in Biology, logy (Ecology), Instituto Ve- logía, IVIC. Apartado 21827. Universidad Central de Venezu- nezolano de Investigaciones Caracas 1020A. Venezuela. ela. Researcher Professional, Científicas (IVIC). Researcher, e-mail: [email protected] IVIC. e-mail: [email protected] MAR 2004, VOL. 29 Nº 3 0378-1844/04/03/145-08 $ 3.00/0 145 RESUMEN La concentración de fluoruro (F) en relación a elementos mi- brica y en B1 el contenido de F fue alto en comparación a lo nor- nerales (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Al, Pb y Cd) y mal en plantas. Las diferencias en las concentraciones de F, Fe, Al fenoles totales fue evaluada en hojas de Byrsonima crassifolia. Se y Pb por edad y sitio fueron significativas. En otras especies se ha cosecharon hojas jóvenes, adultas y caídas en un jardín situado en reportado una correlación positiva de F con Al y fenoles totales, y las afueras de una industria de aluminio, en el Estado Bolívar, Ve- negativa con Ca. En este trabajo se encontró, en B. crassifolia, una nezuela y en dos sitios en la sabana a una distancia aproximada de correlación positiva de F con Al, Ca y principalmente Fe, pero no 5 y 8km de la fábrica en la dirección del viento. Se encontró una con fenoles. Previamente no se había reportado la presencia de regresión lineal positiva de F con Mn, Fe, Pb, Al, Ca, Mg, Cr y Zn compuestos metálicos con F en esta especie, los cuales pueden ser para hojas jóvenes y adultas. Se colectaron también hojas en otros liberados en infusiones medicinales. El lavado de hojas con agua dos sitios más distantes (B1 y B2) y en un sitio contrastante (M) en mostró que una proporción alta de F y minerales estaba presente una zona sin minería o industrias de Al. En las cercanías a la fá- en la superficie foliar y/o los tricomas. RESUMO A concentração de fluoreto (F) em relação a elementos mine- Nas cercanias da fábrica e em B1 o conteúdo de F foi alto em rais (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Al, Pb y Cd) e comparação ao normal em plantas. As diferenças nas concentra- fenóis totais foi avaliada em folhas de Byrsonima crassifolia. Se ções de F, Fe, Al e Pb por idade e lugar foram significativas. Em plantaram folhas jóvens, adultas e caídas em um jardim situado outras espécies se tem reportado uma correlação positiva de F nas aforas de uma industria de alumínio, no Estado Bolívar, Vene- com Al e fenóis totais, e negativa com Ca. Neste trabalho encon- zuela e em dois lugares na savana a uma distância aproximada trou-se, em B. crassifolia, uma correlação positiva de F com Al, de 5 e 8 km da fábrica na direção do vento. Encontrou-se uma Ca e principalmente Fe, mas não com fenóis. Previamente não se regressão lineal positiva de F com Mn, Fe, Pb, Al, Ca, Mg, Cr e havía reportado a presença de compostos metálicos com F nesta Zn para folhas jovens e adultas. Se recolheram também folhas em espécie, os quais podem ser liberados em infusões medicinais. A outros dois lugares mais distantes (B1 e B2) e em um lugar lavagem de folhas com água mostrou que uma proporção alta de contrastante (M) em uma zona sem mineria ou indústrias de Al. F e minerais estava presente na superfície foliar e/ou os tricomas. Aluminium is the most umes of water by infusion for 1997). The content of total (8º16'N, 62º48'W) located prevalent cation with which F 2h (Berger et al., 1998). It has phenols is positively corre- near Ciudad Guayana, Bolivar complexes in acid soils. been reported that very signifi- lated with F in Pinus nigra State, Venezuela, and two Nagata et al. (1993) found cant reductions in spontaneous (Giertych et al., 1999). sites in the savannah at a dis- evidence that those complexes locomotor activity and explor- The aim of this work was tance of 5km (8º15'N, 62º are taken up and transported atory behavior are caused by a to study the concentration of 50'W) and 8km (8º14'N, in tea plants until they reach dosage of 1.25g dried plant/kg F and the mineral composi- 62º51'W) west from the fac- the leaf where the complexes aqueous extracts of bark and tion of leaves of B. crassifo- tory. The sampling was done are dissociated. Fung et al. leaves of B. crassifolia lia, and to evaluate the differ- in the prevailing wind direc- (1999) found that soil pH and (Cifuentes et al., 2001). ences in F concentration in tion (North-East) in May extractable Al concentration It is important to know the relation to metals and total 2001. affected the F contents in F content of plants used in phenols, in leaves of different Samples were also col- soils and plant tissues from infusions. Fluorine is phyto- ages, in sites with pollution lected in two other sites in tea plantations. toxic, causing damage in veg- differences due to their prox- Bolívar State in May 2001. The present study was car- etation, wildlife and humans imity to or farness from an Site B1 (8º11'N, 62º52'W) ried out on Byrsonima crassi- (Thomson et al., 1979; Wein- Al-smelter. was located 20km away from folia, a medicinal plant dis- stein and Davison, 2003). the Al-smelter in a savannah tributed in several regions of Fluorosis has been reported in Material and methods close to the intersection Mexico, Central and South inhabitants of Chinese prov- known as km 88 on the road America, used since pre-His- inces and Tibet where tea Plant material from Ciudad Guayana to the panic times.