Abstract
Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques were used to analyze 18 elements (K, Mn, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Br, Sm, Cl, La, Al, Cr, Ca Cd, Ni, Pb and Hg) in different medici-nal plants often used in Indian Ayurvedic system. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor and the induced activities were counted by γ-ray spectrometry using 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 ele-ments under study. The elemental concentra-tion in different part of medicinal plants and their biological effects on human beings are discussed.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONThere are many references to the curative properties of several herbs in the ancient Indian literature, Rigveda, though a more detailed account is found in the Atharvaveda from where Ayurveda, the Indian traditional health care system (ayus=life, veda=knowledge, meaning science of life) originated
There are many references to the curative properties of several herbs in the ancient Indian literature, Rigveda, though a more detailed account is found in the Atharvaveda from where Ayurveda, the Indian traditional health care system originated
Some western scholars have pursued the analysis of various Indian plants and herbs for their medicinal properties [5]. Most studies on such medicinal plants pertain to their organic contents, viz. essential oils, glycosides, vitamins, alkaloids and other active components and their pharmacological/therapeutic effects
Summary
There are many references to the curative properties of several herbs in the ancient Indian literature, Rigveda, though a more detailed account is found in the Atharvaveda from where Ayurveda, the Indian traditional health care system (ayus=life, veda=knowledge, meaning science of life) originated. The leaves of the plants are still used in some countries, as for instance, in Malaysia [11], Greece [12] and India [13] 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 accurate data. Considering the importance of trace elements in various human metabolic processes and considering their curative properties, in the present investigation we have applied one of the sensitive analytical techniques like INAA to study the essential elemental content in different parts of Indian medicinal plants and herbs. It will help in deciding the proportion of various active constituents and managing dose of a particular formulation
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