PARTICLE INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION STUDIES OF SOME INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

Medicinal herbs have been used from antiquity by humanity. This paper discusses the elemental composition and concentration of ten Indian medicinal plants investigated by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. The accuracy and precision of the technique were assured by analyzing three Certified Standard Reference Materials-cabbage (GBW 08504, China), wheat flour (NIST-8436) and bovine liver (NIST-1577b). The elements K , Ca , Mn , Fe , Cu and Zn were found to be present in all the samples in varying concentrations. No toxic heavy metals such as As , Pb and Hg were detected in the studied plants. The range of the elemental concentrations in dry weight has been found to vary from 4.69 × 104 mg/kg to 1.81 mg/kg in the plants. The results also show that these plants contain elements of vital importance in man's metabolism and that are needed for growth and developments, prevention and healing of diseases.