Trace determination of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn in Ayurvedic drug, ''Mahayograj Guggulu" via polarographic technique

Abstract

Ayurveda is predominant among India's traditional health systems and Ayurvedic medicine constitutes around 84% of the sector. However, claims of several Ayurvedic products are often being criticized for not having any scientific evidence and general lack of standardization of raw materials. A D.C. polarographic method has been proposed for the determination of heavy metals like Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu etc. in Ayurvedic drug - Mahayograj Guggulu at mg/L level. The drug was digested with HCI + HNO 3 . The analysis was performed using 0.1 M HCl (for Zn), 0.25 M acetate buffer (pH = 4.4 ± 0.1) for Cd, Cu, 0.1 M LiClO 4 (pH = 2.2 ± 0.1) for Pb. The concentration of metals were in the order Zn > Cd > Cu > Pb. The results were satisfactory and the developed method is simple, rapid and sensitive and can be applied to the microdetermination of the heavy metals in various Ayurvedic drugs.