BACKGROUND: In this study, 18 kinds of medicinal plants were collected together with their soils from different regions of Turkey and their macro- and micro-element and heavy metal contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). In soils, pH, electrical conductivity, carbonate (lime), organic matter, texture, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B were analysed. In plants and extracts, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Na, Al, Li, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co and Cr contents were determined. Also, correlations between soil and plant and between plant and extract were established. RESULTS: Element concentrations ranged between 0.11 and 5160 μg g-1 in soil samples, between 0.14 and 54400 μg g-1 in plant samples and between 0.039 and 22033 μg g-1 in extract samples. While sage was rich in Fe (981.3 μg g-1), basil was abundant in P (9.8 mg g-1), K (54.4 mg g_1), Ca (22.6 mg g-1), Mg (3.1 mg g_1) and Zn (46.05 μg g-1) and mint was rich in Li (23.50 μg g_1). Moreover, while high levels of P (4100.9 μg g-1), K (22033 μg g_1) and Mg (529.15 μg g-1) were found in basil extract, Ca (5979.3 μg g-1) was present at high concentration in marjoram leaf extract. Also, Fe (4.25 μg g-1) and Zn (17.51 μg g-1) were detected at high levels in lime flower and mint extracts respectively. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that aromatic plants are important sources of nutrients and essential elements. © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.