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Betonica bulgarica is an endemic species distributed in Bulgaria. The chemical composition of the essential oil analysed by GC–MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) and the content of trace elements analysed by ICP–MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) were determined. Additionally, a study on the types and distribution of trichomes was done using a microscope with a camera. The essential oil was characterized using a high concentration of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, whose major compounds are β-caryophyllene (17.4%), germacrene D (9.9%), and β-bourbonene (6.7%). The contents of manganese (177.2 µg/g) and strontium (156.8 µg/g) were highest among the investigated micronutrients. Two types of trichomes were identified on the adaxial and abaxial epidermises of the leaves of B. bulgarica—covering and glandular. Peltate stacked glandular trichomes with a four-celled head of type B were observed on the leaf surface.

The contents of mineral elements in wild traditional Tibetan medicines Fritillaria ussuriensis and Gastrodia elata from Tibet were determined by ICP-MS to study their efficacy mechanism and quality. The results showed that wild Gastrodia elata contained more Ca, Fe and Mn than F. ussuriensis, and less Zn, which proved that different traditional Tibetan medicines had different abilities to absorb mineral elements, which should be relative to their efficacy. Compared with F. ussuriensis, Gastrodia elata contained more Pb, Cr and Se, and less Cd and As. Referred to relative standards, toxic elements’ content in Gastrodia elata is not excessive, but Cd in F. ussuriensis was much higher than that of standard.