Optimization and validation of microwave digestion method for determination of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) in an classical ayurvedic medicine-Arogyavardhini

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to optimize and validate an efficient microwave digestion method for determination of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) in Arogyavardhini sample. The samples were digested in Aquaregia (a mixture of HNO3 and HCl - 1:3) for Copper (Cu) and HCl for Iron (Fe) with closed vessel microwave digestion system. The digested samples were subjected to Atomic absorption spectrophotometer for determination of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe). The method validation was carried out as per ICH guidelines and can be adopted for the routine analysis of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe). The method was validated for precision, accuracy, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The optimized method showed good regression (r2= 0.9997). The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.02 PPM and 0.05 PPM for Copper (Cu) and 0.28 PPM and 0.83 PPM for Iron (Fe) respectively. Accuracy of the method was checked by recovery study of three different levels with the average percentage recovery of 99.76% for Copper (Cu) and 104.66% for Iron (Fe).