LAUSR

: The consumption of herbal teas is becoming more and more popular nowadays both as luxury foods and a complementary part of medical therapy. Beside the organic agents of medicinal plants, the presence of inorganic ions is also relevant in exerting the favorable pharmacological effect. The author briefly summarizes the importance of some essential metal ions and their quantitative values in teas applied in the adjuvant therapy of diabetes and used as diuretics. The common feature of teas used in diabetes is that they contain a measurable amount of chromium and the concentration of most essential elements (such as K, Mg, Mn and Zn) is significant, which can be considered as a mineral source for some metal ions. Diuretic herbs have an outstanding K content, but from the point of view of diuresis, the large K/Na molar ratio above 50 is relevant. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(18): 713-719.