The aim of this paper is to evaluate the potential mechanisms of the absorption and distribution of metals in the aromatic herbs Mentha spicata and Mentha longifolia, as well as their potential for the bioaccumulation of these elements. The herbs were sampled from the slopes of Mount Bjelasica in Montenegro. After the microwave processing of the herb samples and the associated soil, the content of the investigated metals Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe and Mn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Taking average values from various parts of both types of mint, the metals were present in the following descending order: Fe (570 mg/kg) > Mn (54.0) > Zn (30.6) > Cu (27.2) > Ni (2.45). The metals under investigation are most commonly present in the roots of the mint, except in the case of Ni in M. longifolia. Manganese is more commonly found in the tissues of M. longifolia than in M. spicata, while the other investigated metals are found relatively uniformly in both types of mint. The bioaccumulation potential of M. spicata, from the soil to the roots, is greatest for Cu and Fe, and generally uniform, with the next highest potential being shown by Zn.
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