Estimation of Heavy Metals in Selected Medicinal Herbs

Abstract

Worldwide nearly 80% of peoples are using the medicinal plants for basic illness due to the presence of primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, minerals and inorganic salts. Some Inorganic minerals available in plants are useful for health and have therapeutic value and some heavy metals are dangerous for health and may cause damage to internal organs. In view of that, the present study designed to quantitatively evaluate the presence of inorganic minerals like Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper and heavy metal like Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Selenium, Cobalt and Chromium in selected medicinal herbs using Flame photometric method and tomic absorption method There is a limitation for the presence of heavy metals in herbal drugs, The distributions of these metals are not uniform all areas, so before using for formulation development all herbs should be taken for the estimation of heavy metals. In this study an attempt to estimate the inorganic elements and heavy metals present in some of the important medicinal plants like Moringa oleifera Lam, Achyranthes aspera Linn, Scoparia dulcisLinn, Achyranthes aspera Linn. Castus pictus Linn, are mostly used in traditional medicines. Based on the analysis, the result shows the minerals like Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper were present in considerable quantity e and heavy metals like Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Selenium, Cobalt and Chromium were within the limit as per WHO standard values. ed plants are containing heavy metals were within the limit as per WHO standard. Further these medicinal plants can use for new herbal formulations.