Estimation of trace elements in some anti-epileptic medicinal plants by PIXE

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in various parts of 10 anti-epileptic medicinal plants using PIXE technique. A 3?MeV proton beam was used to excite the samples and spectra were recorded using a Si(Li) detector. Data analysis was done using Gupix Software. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Sr were identified and their concentrations estimated. The presence of some of these trace elements is correlated with the anti-epileptic curative property of these plants.     

Analysis of trace elements in medicinal plants with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence

Mankind still depend on traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases and ailments. This paper discusses the elemental composition and concentration of medicinal plants investigated by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The elements present in medicinal plants are P, Cl, K, Ca, S, Al, Ti, V, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, I and Ce. The physical basis of the used analytical method, the experimental set up and the procedure of sample preparation are presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of trace elements in Chinese medicinal plants by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Roots of Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Codonopsis pilosula, which were often used as herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, were analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The samples were collected in Gansu, northwest of China and irradiated at the 15 MW heavy water reactor in China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The induced activities were counted by a well calibrated low background γ-spectrometer equipped with a high efficiency coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The concentrations of eighteen trace elements (Ca, Fe, Na, Zn, Ba, Rb, Ce, Cr, La, Co, Th, Cs, Sb, Sc, Sm, Hf, Eu and Tb) in the herbs were determined. Possible links between pharmacological action of the herbs and content of some elements were also discussed in this paper. The measured results were compared with the reported values in literature.     

Trace elements in Malaysian medicinal plants

Elemental content of twenty medicinal plants used as tonic and for treatment of diabetes and simusitis were determined by INAA and XRF. Elemental determination was carried out in the raw samples, residues after boiling and the water soluble fractions. Samples were irradiated in TRIGA MkII reactor and counted using HPGe detector coupled to Personal Computer Analyzer (PCA) system. Bowen's Kale, NBS Pine Needles, NBS Citrus Leaves SRM were analysed to check the accuracy of the techniques used. Twenty elements were determined by both NAA and XRF. Arsenic was only detected inLabisia pothoina andDracontomelon dao with a concentrations of 0.40 mg/kg and 0.60 mg/kg respectively. Antimony was found in eleven samples with a concentration of <0.20 mg/kg. Al, Br, Ca, Cl, K, Mn, Na and Rb were detected in all samples whereas Mg and Zn were present in all samples exceptCinnamomum sp. Highest concentration of Br (190 mg/kg), Cl (11805 mg/kg), Co (0.50 mg/kg), Fe (1642 mg/kg), K (36788 mg/kg), Mn (325 mg/kg), Na (126 mg/kg), Rb (197 mg/kg), Sc (0.18 mg/kg) and Zn (3551 mg/kg) were observed in the tuber ofLasia aculeata. Less than 70% and 50% of the elements contained inCallicarpa longifolia andEurycoma longifolia were obtained respectively from water by boiling.     

The recognition of similarities in trace elements content in medicinal plants using MLP and RBF neural networks

The objective of the paper was to verify if the content of some elements provides enough information for proper classification of the medicinal plant raw materials. Such information could be helpful in standardization process of herbal products. Four elements—zinc, copper, lead and cadmium were determined using inverse voltammetry in commercially available medicinal herbal raw materials. Initially, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to investigate the relationships among the analyzed trace elements. In the next stage of the study, two different types of feed-forward artificial neural networks (FANNs)—multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF) were applied. The concentrations of the elements were used as input variables to neural networks models, which were to recognize the taxonomy of the plant and the anatomical part it originated from. Although full recognition of the samples with use of FANNs on the basis of some trace elements content was not achieved, it was possible to identify two elements—cadmium and lead as the most important in the classification analysis of medicinal plants.     

Soil-to-plant transfer of 137Cs and other essential and trace elements in cabbage plants

The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and other essential and trace elements were determined in soils and in cabbage heads collected from 8 agricultural fields in Aomori Prefecture, Japan and the soil-to-plant transfer factors were determined. The 95% confidence intervals of the elements, excluding ¹³⁷Cs, La and Ce, were within 2 orders of magnitude. The transfer factor of ¹³⁷Cs was approximately 4 times higher than that of Cs, and they were well correlated. In addition, the distributions of elemental concentrations in different leaf positions of a cabbage plant were also determined and were divided into three groups according to their different distribution patterns in the leaf positions. These patterns were as follows: (1) the concentrations of the elements in older (outer) leaves were higher than in younger (inner) ones (Ca, Sr, etc.), (2) the concentrations of the element had a relatively constant value independent of their leaf position (K, Rb, etc.), and (3) the concentrations of the elements were higher in both the older and younger leaves compared to the leaves in the middle portion (Zn). The percentage distribution of the dry weight contents in the edible leaves of cabbage plants was 41% at harvest time, however each element had different distribution patterns.     

Investigation on major,minor and trace elements in some medicinal plants using Particle Induced X-ray Emission

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Elemental concentrations namely P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Br and Sr were determined using Particle Induced X-ray Emission...     

X-ray fluorescence determinatin of trace elements in soil

Trace elements in soil are quantified by direct X-ray fluorescence method. Gallium is used an internal standard to compensate for variations in sample matrix, instrumental operating characteristics, and sample preparation. At the 50-mg kg^?1 level, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and As can be determined within a precision and accuracy of ± 20% or less. Sample prepartion is less elaborate than for some other methods.     

Mushrooms as biological monitors of trace elements in the environment

Mushrooms as a functional system relating to the most important environmental compartments (soil, water, air), may be used advantageously as biological monitors of the state of the environment. In particular the aerial parts of the mushroom (head and stem), because of their rapid growth rate from a few days to a few weeks, could be a useful indicator of fluctuations that may occur in the ecosystem. In this study the levels of fallout radionuclides¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs, due mostly to the Chernobyl nuclear accident, of natural radionuclide⁴⁰K and of the stable elements Se, Hg, Cr, Cs, Sc, Rb, Zn, Fe, Co, Eu, Sb, Ag, Ce, Ba, Ni present in the head and stem of mushroom samples from an area of the Italian Alps were measured. The analytical technique used was Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and gamma-spectrometry. The results are discussed and possible correlations with other environmental parameters are examined.     

Transfer of uranium and thorium from soil to different parts of medicinal plants using SSNTD

The uptake of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in different parts of some selected plants used in traditional treatment of hypertension and diabetes in south-eastern Morocco (Errachidia area) has been studied using two different types of solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) LR-115 type II and CR-39. Plant uptake of radionuclides is one of many vectors for introduction of contaminants into the human food chain. Thus, it is critical to understand soil–plant relationships that control nuclide bioavailability. Soil concentrations of uranium ranged from 6.10 to 11.62 ppm, with a mean of 7.90 ppm. Soil concentrations of thorium ranged from 2.70 to 4.80 ppm, with a mean of 3.41 ppm. Mean uranium specific activities were 8.38 Bq kg⁻¹ in root tissue, 5 Bq kg⁻¹ in stem tissue and 6.02 Bq kg⁻¹ in leaf tissue. Mean thorium specific activities were 2.53 Bq kg⁻¹ in root tissue, 1.64 Bq kg⁻¹ in stem tissue and 1.96 Bq kg⁻¹ in leaf tissue. The transfer factors of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th from soil to different parts (root, stem, leaf, seed and fruit) of studied plant samples have been investigated. The transfer factors obtained for root plants were markedly higher than those for leaf, stem, fruit and seed plants. Soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) is one of the most important parameters to be used in transfer models for predicting the concentration of radionuclides in agricultural crops and for estimating dose impacts to man. This study of uranium and thorium uptake in plants used in traditional medicine is also significant as far as the health hazard effects of uranium and thorium in human being are concerned.     

Essential and trace element contents of some Nigerian medicinal plants

The energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy has been used for the determination of essential and trace elements" contents of some twenty Nigerian medicinal plants. The accuracy and precision of the technique were assured by analyzing the European Community Bureau Reference Standard BCR 62 (Olive Leaves). Fourteen elements, namely K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sr were detected with toxic heavy metal such as Cd, As, Pb, Hg were detected in the samples. The ranges of elemental concentrations varied from 7.7^.10⁴ to 1.6 mg/kg in the herbs. The results show that many of these plants contain elements of vital importance for human metabolism and prevention and healing of diseases.     

Enrichment factors and transfer coefficients from soil to rye plants by INAA

An extensive investigation of elemental levels in cereals and their cultivation soils has been going on across the main production areas of mainland Portugal, with a view to an eventual biofortification of major cultivars through agronomic practices. Cereals are an obvious choice as primary vehicles for food-supplementation programs, especially in countries where they definitely weigh in the dietary intake (like Portugal), and regions whose geographical and/or pedological features may account for nutrient deficiencies in typical diets. Mature rye plants (Secale cereale L.; roots and grains) and local soils were collected in the summer of 2009 from two regions of northern Portugal, and put through k ₀-standardized, instrumental neutron activation analysis (k ₀-INAA). Overall, the results (elemental concentrations, enrichment factors, transfer coefficients) seem to confirm an efficient uptake of elements from soil and their translocation to the aerial parts of the plants, notably to the ones that really matter in human nutrition (grains).     

Direct spectrographic analysis of trace elements in soil samples

Summary A direct emission Spectrographic method for the estimation of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in soil samples is described. The sample, free from organic matter is thoroughly mixed with graphite-internal standard mixture and excited in UCC 1989 type electrode using 15 A d.c. A 3.4 m Jarrel-Ash grating spectrograph is employed to photograph the spectra on SA-1 photographic plates. Synthetic standards are used for establishing working curves. The precision of the method, expressed as coefficient of variation is ±11%.

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Direkte spektrographische Analyse von Elementspuren in Bodenproben

Zusammenfassung Eine direkte emissionsspektrographische Methode zur Bestimmung von Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V und Zn in Bodenproben wird beschrieben. Die von organischen Substanzen freie Probe wird mit einem Gemisch von Graphit und innerem Standard vermischt und mit Hilfe von 15 A Gleichstrom in einer Elektrode vom Typ UCC 1989 angeregt. Die Spektren werden in einem 3,4 m Jarrel-Ash Gitterspektrograph auf SA-1 Platten aufgenommen. Zur Aufstellung der Eichkurven werden synthetische Standards verwendet. Die Genauigkeit (Variationskoeffizient) beträgt ±11%.

     

Determination of trace elements in a medicinal plant by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of inorganic elements in medicinal plants may be related to the concentration of active constituents. Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been employed to determine the elements antimony, cesium, chlorine, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium, rubidium, selenium, sodium and zinc in different parts of Helleborus cyclophyllus BOISS. and in the soil in which the plant was grown. It has been found that antimony has a selective accumulation in the rhizome of this plant where the active constituents are located, as well as chlorine in petioles and leaves.     

Characterization of trace elements in medicinal herbs by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Medicinal herbs are often used as alternative medicines for healing and controlling some diseases in the world. This study focuses on the content of heavy and trace elements of some widely consumed herbs in Libya. Nine most popular herbs were analyzed by k ₀-instrumental neutron activation analysis. All the samples, SRM and flux monitors were irradiated for 7 and 10 hours under thermal neutron flux of 1.3·10¹³ cm⁻²·s⁻¹ at Tajoura nuclear reactor. In total, 33 elements were analyzed in different herbs. The variations in the concentration of the elements are attributed to soil composition and the climate in which the plant grows. The study showed that the toxic elements found in the samples were below the levels prescribed by health regulations. The precision and the accuracy of the results were evaluated by analyzing the reference materials Pine Needles SRM 1575 and Citrus Leaves SRM1572.     

Determination of trace elements in soil and plants in the Orontes basin of Syria by using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) have been used for the determination of some major, minor and trace elements (As, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Sb, Sc, Ce, Ti, Fe, Mn and V) in various plant leaves together with their soil. The accuracy of the measurements have been evaluated by analyzing a number of plant and soil reference materials, precision have been estimated by triplicate analysis of the sample as well as that of the reference material. The obtained accurate and reliable data of some trace elements on microgram level for plants and soil will serve as baseline values and will be helpful to monitor the changes in the trace element content of soil and plant leaves.The authors are thankful to Prof. I. Othman General Director of AECS for his encouragement and his support.     

Determination of trace elements in soil and plants in the Orontes basin of Syria by using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) have been used for the determination of some major, minor and trace elements (As, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Sb, Sc, Ce, Ti, Fe, Mn and V) in various plant leaves together with their soil. The accuracy of the measurements have been evaluated by analyzing a number of plant and soil reference materials, precision have been estimated by triplicate analysis of the sample as well as that of the reference material. The obtained accurate and reliable data of some trace elements on microgram level for plants and soil will serve as baseline values and will be helpful to monitor the changes in the trace element content of soil and plant leaves.The authors are thankful to Prof. I. Othman General Director of AECS for his encouragement and his support.     

Distribution of trace and minor elements in hungarian spice paprika plants

Detailed investigations were carried out to study the distribution of trace and minor elements in different parts (fruit, seed and rib, peduncle, stem, leaf, root) of ripe Hungarian spice paprika plants. Two varieties of paprika plants were analyzed for their Cl, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sc, V and Zn content by non-destructive neutron activation analysis. The results showed that the iron contents of the samples were much higher than those of the other trace elements. For the trace elements Co, Fe, Mn, Sc, V and Zn a considerable enrichment was observed in the leaf, while the Rb and K, Na, Mg showed accumulation mainly in the peduncle. In the other parts (fruit, seed and rib, stem) of the paprika plants no significant enrichment of trace elements was found. Since some of the elements investigated may have been partially eluted during the cleaning of the roots with distilled water and, on the other hand, if the cleaning was not intensive enough, some soil particles could be retained on the samples, the data obtained for the roots should be considered with precaution.     

Determination of trace elements in Syrian medicinal plants and their infusions by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques suited well for a multi-element determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr in some Syrian medicinal plant species. The accuracy and the precision of both techniques were verified by analyzing the Standard Reference Materials (SRM) peach-1547 and apple leaves-1515. A good agreement between the measured concentrations of the previously mentioned elements and the certified values were obtained with errors less than 10.7% for TXRF and 15.8% for XRF. The determination of Br was acceptable only by XRF with an error less than 24%. Furthermore, the XRF method showed a very good applicability for the determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Br in infusions of different Syrian medicinal plant species, namely anise (Anisum vulgare), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba).