A database development for multi element concentrations of medicinal plants using instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Abstract

Medicinal plants are used by an estimated 80% of the population in developing countries for a wide range of health applications. The objective of this study is to develop a database for multi-element characterization of leaves and stem bark of medicinal plants using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and ethanoic extracts of the plants using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, information on South African medicinal plants and their uses; essential or toxic elements and their dietary intake; trace element concentration and their healing capabilities as well as possible linking between traditional and modern medicine based on element concentrations is compiled to fulfill the overall objective. Thirty dry medicinal plant samples were analyzed using INAA and about 11 medicinal plants extracts using ICP-MS. The essential and toxic trace elements that have been found in most medicinal plants include As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, Mo, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Se, Th, U and Zn with in some cases major differences in concentrations providing a possible link between therapeutic actions of medicinal plants and trace elements. It has been demonstrated that INAA and ICP-MS techniques were ideal and relatively cumbersome respectively for this study