Availability of essential trace elements in ayurvedic Indian medicinal herbs using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy
| Published date | 01 May 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425945201000012 |
| Pages | 175-190 |
| Date | 01 May 2010 |
| Author | Pravin Singare,Ram Lokhande,Mahadeo Andhale,Raghunath Acharya |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
175
Copyright © 2010 WASD
World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2010
AvAilAbility of essentiAl
trAce elements in Ayurvedic
indiAn medicinAl herbs using
instrumentAl neutron
ActivAtion AnAlysis And
Atomic Absorption
spectroscopy
Pravin Singare*
Bhavan’s College, Andheri, India
Ram Lokhande†
University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacr uz, India
Mahadeo Andhale‡
University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacr uz, India
Raghunath Acharya**
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India
Abstract: Elemental analysis of these medicinal plants was performed by employing
Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic Absorption Spectros-
copy (AAS) techniques. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear
reactor and the induced radio activity was counted by gamma ray spectrometry using an
efficiency calibrated high resolution High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. Most of
the medicinal plants were found to be rich in one or more of the elements under study.
175
* Corresponding author: Department of Chemistry, Bhavan’s College, Andheri, Mumbai 400058, India;
e-mail: pravinsingare@vsnl.net
†
Department of Chemistry, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, Mumbai 400 098, India;
rama.lokhande@yahoo.com
‡
Department of Chemistry, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, Mumbai 400 098, India;
mahadeoa@gmail.com
**Raghunath Acharya Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085,
India; raghunath@rediffmail.com
176 R. Lokhande et al.
introduction
There are many references to the curative prop-
erties of several herbs in the ancient Indian
literature, Rigveda, though a more detailed
account is found in the Atharvaveda from
were Ayurveda, the Indian traditional health
care system (ayus = life, veda = knowledge,
meaning science of life) originated. Fairly
comprehensive information about herbs has
been recorded in two treatises Charak Samhita
and Shusruta Samhita – a base for Ayurvedic
system of medicine (Parchure, 1983; Sharma,
1993). These herbs are now being increasingly
used in cosmetics, food as well as alternative
medicine (Bakhru, 1998). Some of the ingre-
dients of allopathic and most of the Ayurvedic
and Homeopathy medicines are derived from
plants. Traditional Indian medical herbs
used for strengthening the body immune
system are known to have many essential
and nutritional elements. Their excess or
deficiency may disturb normal biochemical
functions of the body (lyengar, 1989). Some
western scholars have pursued the analysis
of various Indian plants and herbs for their
medicinal properties (Ambasta, 1986). Most
studies on such medicinal plants pertain to
their organic contents, viz. essential oils, gly-
cosides, vitamins, alkaloids and other active
components and their pharmacological/ther-
apeutic effects. Besides several organic com-
pounds, it is now well established that many
trace elements play a vital role in general
well-being as well as in the cure of diseases
(Prasad, 1993; Underwood, 1977). Several
studies have reported elemental contents in
plant extracts, which are consumed by us
either as a herbal health drink or medicine
(Abou Arab and Donia, 2000; Kumar et al.,
2005; Powel et al., 1998). These elements are
present at varying concentrations in different
parts of the plants, especially in roots, seeds
and leaves which are used as a dietary item as
well as ingredient in the Ayurvedic medicinal
preparation. The leaves of the plants are still
used in some countries, as for instance, in
Malaysia (Majid et al., 1995), Greece (Kanias
et al., 1993) and India (Patel, 1986) particu-
larly for their therapeutic effects. Since these
trace elements constitute a minute fraction
in different parts of the medicinal plants, a
sensitive and reliable analytical technique is
a prerequisite for obtaining precise and accu-
rate data.
Considering the importance of trace
elements in various human metabolic pro-
cesses and also considering their curative
properties, in the present investigation we
have applied one of the sensitive analytical
techniques such as NAA to study the essen-
tial elemental content in different parts of
Indian medicinal plants and herbs. The
overall impact of these essential trace ele-
ments on human health is also discussed.
Due to increasing industrialisation and
environmental pollution, the study was also
extended to estimate the level of toxic ele-
ments present in these medicinal plant sam-
ples. Even though the direct link between
the essential elemental content and their
The variation in elemental concentration in same medicinal plant samples collected
from different regions was studied and the biological effects of these elements on human
beings are discussed. The study was also extended further to estimate the level of toxic
elements like Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb and Hg in medicinal plants which arises due to environ-
mental pollution. The results were discussed with careful reference to established role of
essential and rare elements to the physiology and pathology of plant and human life.
Keywords: Instrumental neutron activation analysis; INAA; atomic absorption
spectroscopy; AAS; medicinal plants; trace elemental analysis; inter-elemental
correlations.
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