Application of infrared spectral analyses for medicinal plants containing calcium (Ca2+)

Abstract

A study was performed with the methods of Non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES), Differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES), mathematical models and water cluster analysis on the changes of hydrogen bonds energy distribution in aqueous solutions due to calcium ions (Ca2+) from the medicinal plants: Origanum vulgare L., Thymus vulgaris L., Mentha longifolia L., Petroselinum crispum Mill., Sideritis scardica Griseb., Salvia officinalis L. All of them are known to contain more than 1000 mg/100 g of calcium ions. The local maximum at (E = -0.1112 eV) (? = 11.15 ?m) (? = 897 cm-1) in all investigated solutions was associated with the presence of calcium ions by Student’s t-test at P<0,05. In the proposed practical approach, the solutions had similar clustering patterns at E = -0.1387 eV, corresponding to water clusters of 16-20 water molecules. These findings from different plant species further expand the evidence about the specific influence of calcium ions on the -0.1112 eV hydrogen bonds energy level in aqueous solutions.