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Availability of essential trace elements in ayurvedic Indian medicinal herbs using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy

Pravin Singare (Bhavan’s College, Andheri, India)
Ram Lokhande (University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, India)
Mahadeo Andhale (University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacruz, India)
Raghunath Acharya (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India)

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development

ISSN: 2042-5945

Article publication date: 1 May 2010

197

Abstract

Elemental analysis of these medicinal plants was performed by employing Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor and the induced radio activity was counted by gamma ray spectrometry using an 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 elements under study. The variation in elemental concentration in same medicinal plant samples collected from different regions was studied and the biological effects of these elements on human beings are discussed. The study was also extended further to estimate the level of toxic elements like Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb and Hg in medicinal plants which arises due to environmental pollution. The results were discussed with careful reference to established role of essential and rare elements to the physiology and pathology of plant and human life.

Keywords

Citation

Singare, P., Lokhande, R., Andhale, M. and Acharya, R. (2010), "Availability of essential trace elements in ayurvedic Indian medicinal herbs using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy", World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 175-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/20425945201000012

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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