title: Evaluation of mineral contents of some edible medicinal plants.
abstract: The contents of macro-(Cd, Al, Pb, Mg, Ca, Na, K) and trace-metals (Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn) in ten edible medicinal plants have been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a wet digestion method. The overall reproducibility of the method is within +/- 10%. The results indicate large variations in the concentration of metals in plants samples studied. Out of the total contents of metals in these plants, the macro-metals including Cd (0.00024-0.00028%), Pb (0.00032-0.00047%), Mg (0.20-0.54%), Ca (0.32-0.39%), and Al (0.008-1.64%) are present in very low concentrations whereas Na (18.76-38.95%) and K (59.66-78.67%) are present comparatively in very high concentrations. Similarly, the trace elements, Cu (0.0022-0.016%). Cr (0.16-0.44%) and Ni (0.38-0.66%) show the lowest concentration and Mn (2.59-14.50%) and Fe (84.36-96.87%) show the highest concentration which may be toxic to health.
authors.affiliation: Dubai Pharmacy College, P.O. Box 19099, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. sa_khans@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Saeed A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: M Siddiq
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mohajir
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements