Application of Electrochemical Methods and Techniques for Analysis of Herbal Products and Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Various plants and their products have been an important part of human life since the Stone Age. After written history began as early as 5000 BC (e.g., Chinese, Sumerian, Egyptian, and Indian civilizations), there were plenty of both written and painted plants and their products. The ancient records of Chinese medicine are now being specially studied and applied in other parts of the world.

Plants have been used in the preparation of various ointments, such as medicine (e.g., chamomile, sage), as diuretics (garlic and asparagus), as a fragrance and aromatherapy (rosemary, incense, lavender, immortelle), as beverages (coffee, mint, green and black tea, wormwood) as food (e.g. wheat, corn, rice, various fruits), in the preparation of drinks (e.g., grapes for wine, hops for beer) or honey, a by-product of bee metabolism, and even as poisons (oleander oil). Via the development of human civilizations, there has been increasing awareness of the importance of determining the content of various active substances contained in plants such as organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, oils and lipoids, flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, glycosides, alkaloids, essential oils, vitamins, bitter and spicy substances, tannins) as well as various metals (iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, etc.)

Electrochemical methods and techniques (e.g., potentiometry, voltammetry, amperometry) are very useful for such analyses. By using potentiometry methods, various ions (e.g., fluorides in herbal infusions), the total concentrations of some metals (e.g., iron and copper) and pH of wines and honeys can be determined. On the other hand, by using an iodide ion-selective electrode, the total antioxidant potential by observing oscillating reactions can be estimated. Amperometry can be used for the determination of bioamines, ascorbic acid, reducing sugars, etc. Bioamines’ content can be seen as a wine quality indicator. Voltammetry can be used for ascorbic acid, some fungicides, e.g., fenhexamid residues in selected berries and wine grapes, vitamins, such as vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-9, vitamin B-12, and vitamin C as well as fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Chromatographic methods can determine the percentage of each chemical ingredient in an essential oil from different plants.

Obviously, there are numerous described electroanalytical methods and techniques for the determination of various analytes in plants and their products. Hence, you are welcomed to submit your scientific work to Plants and share your findings worldwide.

Dr. Ante Prkić
Dr. Mirko Ruscic
Guest Editors

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• Herbs as fragrance
• Aromatherapy
• Beverages
• Food
• Electrochemistry methods and techniques