Speciation analysis of iron in traditional Chinese medicine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

In view of octanol, a long-chain alkanol, resembled as the configuration of carbohydrate and adipose in human body, the octanol-solubility and water-solubility were used to define the species of iron in medicine, to identify the lipophily and bioavailability of coordinated iron complex, and octanol–water system was adopted to study the distribution of iron in decoction of eight single medicines and compatibility of semen persicae and flos carthami in stomach and intestine. To study the effect of compatibility of medicines, the different acidity of stomach and intestine on the species of iron in phytomedicine decoction, the total concentration, octanol- and water-solubility concentration of iron in medicinal materials or decoctions under gastric and intestinal acidity, were determined, respectively, by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, analyzed and compared. The different acidity of digestive site, the different composition of medicine, and the compatibility of medicines, have greatly affected the species of iron, the pharmacological activity of coordinated iron complex in decoctions. Such factors, especially the concentration of octanol-solubility iron, could be the basis of the dosage to avoid iron overload.