Objective: It is general perception that medicinal herbs and their drugs are safe but incidences of poisoning by toxic heavy metals commonly found in herbal products. In order to ensure the purity, safety of the medicinal plant, it is vital to determine the elemental contents of medicinal plants because repeated consumption of large doses may increase the levels of these metals in the body imparting negative effect on health status.
Method: Eleven trace and toxic metals including Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cd and Pb, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer from root, stem, leave flower and seeds of Tephrosia apollinea.
Result: Concentration of calcium (3108.974mg/kg) was highest, followed by magnesium (2511.962mg/kg) and potassium (979.323mg/kg) amongst the all detected elements. Moderate concentrations of sodium, iron and Zinc were observed. Lead and nickel were detected in a very low concentration while the concentrations of cadmium and cobalt were below the detection limits.
Conclusion: It was revealed from the study that the said plant is a good source of minerals such as Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Zinc that may enhance the potential of the plant in the treatment of diarrhea and related diseases, hepatic diseases and wound healing.
Key words: Minerals, medicinal plant, Kech, Balochistan, Tephrosia apollinea.
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