Correlation between five minerals and the healing effect of Brazilian medicinal plants

A great many Brazilian medicinal plants are used in wound healing. They are usually applied directly to wounds, some in natura as poultices, some as d ried powders, and others as water extracts (teas) for bathing. Sixteen plan ts from the Atlantic Rain Forest of the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil w ere analyzed to determine the concentration of five minerals: silicon, mang anese, iron, copper, and zinc to study their possible role in the healing p rocesses. The analysis was performed in plant samples and in teas prepared from them. There appears to be a correlation between the healing effect of the plants and their content of these element.