Assessment of herbal products and their composite medicinal plants through proximate and micronutrients analysis.

Abstract

Fourteen medicinal plant species, growing in different parts of Pakistan, have been used to prepare two herbal products Mussafeen and Itreeful ustokhudus by the Qarshi Industry Pvt Ltd. These products were selected to compare the proximate parameters and micronutrients composition with medicinal plants used therein. In proximate analysis carbohydrate, protein, fiber, fat, ash and energy values while in case of micronutrients; Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, Zn, Fe and Cd were assayed. The proximate parameters of each medicinal plants used in herbal products were different, however, Fumaria offcinalis has higher to moderate values of ash, fat, carbohydrates and protein contents compared to other species used in the herbal formulations. Looking at the herbal product’s proximate analysis, Mussafeen had highest percentage of fats, ash, proteins, and fibers compared to Itreeful ustokhudus herbal products. In micronutrient’s analysis, Sphaeranthus hiritus, Fumaria offcinalis and Cuscuta reflexa hadhigher concentration of Co, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni and Pb compared to other composite materials of the herbal products. In case of herbal formulations, Itreeful ustokhudus has the highest concentrations of almost all nutrients, that is, Cu, Zn and Cd, while Mussafeen has highest concentrations of Fe, Pb and Ni. However, the concentrations were found well below the threshold levels of the standards mentioned by World Health Organizations. Key words: Herbal drugs, standardization, proximate and micro-nutrient analysis, Medicinal plants, Pakistan.