Information on the content of medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes is scarce in the literature. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of macroelements and microelements in three different medicinal plant species including the dry samples and teas from Bauhinia forficata, Eleusine Indica, and Orthosiphon stamineus and assess the human health risks of ingestion of the tea. The content of the dry samples and teas was obtained using the technique of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave digestion procedure. The hazard quotient (HQ) method was used to access the human health risks posed by heavy metal through tea consumption. The results revealed the presence of K, Mg, Na, P, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Se in dry samples and plant teas. The dry plants have high concentration of K and P. All dry plants contain Mg, Na, Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu above the limit permissible level set by the World Health Organization (WHO). All the hazard index (HI) values in plant teas were found to be within safe limits for human consumption (HI < 1). The plants may have possible action benefits when used in popular medicine. However, the ingestion through capsules prepared by enclosing a plant powder or teas can be harmful to the health of diabetics. The prescription of this plant for the treatment of diabetes should be treated with caution.

The inflorescence of Musa paradisiaca, known as banana heart is a structure that includes flowers and bracts of banana, commonly used as food source worldwide. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the mineral components of Musa paradisiaca and (2) to compare the obtained results with previously reported data of Recommendation Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and edible plant permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. The samples were digested using microwave-assisted equipment, while elemental contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Metal (Mg, Ca, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, and Zn) and nonmetal (S and P) contents were detected. According to RDA, the inflorescences could be excellent sources of Mg, P, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Fe for females, males, and pregnant women, all age 3150y, as well as children (48y). Bracts are good source of Zn for male and pregnant women and good source of Fe for children. All the samples contained considerable amounts of Mg, Ca, P, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe, which were quite low to induce deleterious effects (UL). FAO/WHO limits for edible plants have not yet been established for S, P, Mg, and Ca, but Ni and Zn are below of those limit values. However, Cr and Cu concentrations are higher than the values established for edible plants and may pose a threat to human health. Farmers should be encouraged by government agencies, not only for sustainability of production but also to ensure the storage and trade of banana tree inflorescence.

This study examined the temporal dynamics of metal(loid) concentrations in agricultural soils, fern Amauropelta rivularioides, and surface waters in a peri-urban region on the Brazil–Paraguay border during 2019–2020. Elevated levels of As, Se, Co, Mn, Cu, and Zn raised concerns about environmental and human health risks, especially when compared to international guidelines. Post-harvest and pre-harvest periods, particularly during corn cultivation, revealed higher concentrations of toxic metals, suggesting cumulative effects of agrochemical use. Principal Component Analysis indicated significant geochemical variation, with particular emphasis on the Collection 1 period (1 June 2019). The fern A. rivularioides demonstrated metal accumulation, especially for As, Pb, Cr, and Ba, reflecting the influence of agrochemical residues and seasonal runoff. Surface waters displayed metal concentrations below detection limits, but phosphorus levels surpassed USEPA thresholds for eutrophication risk. Risk assessments indicated moderate to high contamination in soils, particularly for P, As, Mg, and Se. Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index values suggested chronic health risks, and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk values for dermal exposure to As, Pb, and Cr indicated an elevated cancer risk.

Urban and peri-urban river systems subjected to intensive agriculture are vulnerable to diffuse metal(loid) inputs, yet the integration of hydrological compartments, bioindicators, and human health risk remains poorly explored. This study investigated the seasonal dynamics, bioaccumulation patterns, and potential human health risks associated with metal(loid)s in the Santa Virgem River (Brazil–Paraguay border), using water from backwater zones and three plant groups (Apiaceae angiosperms, mosses, and the liverwort Dumortiera sp.). Water and plant samples were collected during five seasonal campaigns (2019–2020) and analyzed by ICP OES. Multivariate analysis (PCA) was applied, and biological accumulation coefficients (BAC) and chronic daily intake (CDI) were estimated for adults and children under different ingestion scenarios. Results showed that Mg, Fe, K, S, and P dominated water chemistry, while As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Se were mostly below detection limits. PCA explained 77.6% of total variance, distinguishing agricultural and hydrological phases. Bryophytes exhibited markedly higher BAC values, particularly for Mn (up to 2.3 × 10⁵) and Fe, compared with Apiaceae. CDI and hazard assessment indicated negligible non-carcinogenic risk for most elements (HQ < 1), except phosphorus, which dominated the Hazard Index due to its low reference dose. Overall, the results demonstrate that hydrodynamic conditions and plant functional traits jointly control metal(loid) dynamics, highlighting the value of multispecies biomonitoring in peri-urban river systems.

In this paper we present a compact and low cost solution to set up and to monitor an electronic Mass Flow Controller (MFC) using an Arduino microcontroller. Usually, MFCs can find a great demand at materials science laboratories, mainly in techniques which requires a precise gas flow control, such as synthesis of thin films by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The control unit produced is presented in details by using schematic diagrams of the circuit and a detailed configuration for connect the controller to the MFC are presented. The control unit is also capable to work with two Mass Flow Controllers (MFCs) simultaneously at manual and remote (via computer software) regime. The source code is quite simple and allows the user easily modify parameters as type of gas and flux capacity of the controllers. Although the low resolution of ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) (10 bits) and DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) (using PWM - “Pulse Width Modulation”, 8 bits), the flux can be adjusted in steps of 0.4 % and 1.5 % of the total flux, respectively, which is very satisfactory for practical purposes. Finally, the operation tests were taken by using Argon (Ar) gas, and great accordance between the set point flow and the MFC measured flow was found.