title: Trace elements content in the selected medicinal plants traditionally used for curing skin diseases by the natives of Mizoram, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the trace elements content in the selected medicinal plants, namely, Eryngium foetidum L., Mimosa pudica L., Polygonum plebeium, and Prunus cerasoides D. Don traditionally used by the natives of the Mizoram, one of the north eastern states in India as their folklore medicines for curing skin diseases like eczema, leg and fingers infection, swelling and wound.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3 MeV proton beam of proton induced X-ray emission technique, one of the most powerful techniques for its quick multi elemental trace analysis capability and high sensitivity was used to detect and characterized for trace elements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies revealed that six trace elements, namely, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, V, and Co detected in mg/L unit were present in varying concentrations in the selected medicinal plants with high and notable concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn and appreciable amount of the Cu, Co and V in all the plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study support the therapeutic usage of these medicinal plants in the traditional practices for curing skin diseases since they are found to contain appreciable amount of the Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, V and Co.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796001, India.
authors.forename: Jay Prakash
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796001, India. Electronic address: birla.kshetri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kshetrimayum Birla
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Compositional Characterization of Materials (NCCCM), Hyderabad-500062, India.
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796004, India.
authors.forename: Raj Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mishra
keywords: Medicinal plants; Mizoram; Proton induced X-ray emission; Skin diseases; Trace elements; Traditional practices