INTRODUCTION:

Medicinal herbs have been used from ancient times by humanity. Older civilizations in India, China, Egypt and Greece had familiar about usefulness and efficacy of different types of medicinal plants. During last 100 years, due to the development of synthetic medicine, people were declined the uses of herbal medicine particularly in developed nations. Even though, the herbal medicine sustained, co-existing with synthetic medicine.

Spices and herbs are used traditionally for culinary and medicinal purposes due to which they are ambitiously studied in relation to various health conditions¹. Recently people have interest to use herbal products due their established effectiveness and almost free from side and toxic nature existing with synthetic medicine². At the present time, the developing nations extensively utilizing plant herbal products for home medicine, nourishment supplements, raw material for the drug manufacturing³.

Doctors prescribed the use of herbal products in the forms of extracts, infusions or by direct ingestion of fine powders of plant material. Similarly, doctors suggested the use of dietary supplement for the treatment of daily problems like stress and insomnia.

The essential and trace elements available in medicinal plants absorbed to human body by the consumption of herbal medicine. Due to slight range between deficiency and toxicity of different elements for the human body, it is difficulty to the adequate dosage and health guidelines for usage of herbal medicine. Geochemical features of the soil govern the accumulation of macro and trace elements in the medicinal plants. Furthermore, Elements accumulated in to plants from their aquatic and aerial environment and allow some plants used as biomonitors^4-8.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Experimental details:

Sampling:

Five different traditionally used medicinal plants (Table I) samples consist of different parts of plants including leaves, aerial parts, roots, fruits and rhizomes were collected. These samples were washed with water, ethanol and rinsed thoroughly with triple distilled water in order to remove surface contamination, soil, foreign particles. The fruits were peeled off. The fruits were cut into small pieces. Then the pieces of the fruits were air dried under shade in the laboratory followed by oven drying at 40^oC before grinding. The pieces were mechanically crushed and ground into powder. The leaves were also separately air dried under shade and then ground into powder. The powdered plant materials were kept at room temperature away from direct sunlight in closed dry plastic bags for further analysis. Analytical grade solvents and chemicals were used for analysis purposes. All other solvents, chemicals and reagents were of purified grade (S.D. fine chemicals or E. Merck India). Distilled water was used wherever water is mentioned. The list of medicinal plants chosen for present investigation, their scientific names, parts of the plants are given in Table 1.

Table 1 List of medicinal plants and their useful parts with sample code

s. no.	sample	local name	scientific name	part used
1	S1	Aswagandha	Withania somnifera	Root, leaf, seed (1:1:1)
2	S2	Sugandhipala	Hemidesmus indicus	Root, leaves, stem (1:1:1)
3	S3	Uttareni	Cyathula prostrate	Root, leaves, stem (1:1:1)
4	S4	Vattiveru	Andropogan Zizanioides	Root, leaves, Rhizome (1:1:1)
5	S5	Kakarakaya	Momirdica charantia	Root, leaves, Fresh fruit (1:1:1)

ICP-MS:

The amount of various elements present in the samples determined using a 7700 series ICP-MS (Agilent Technologies, USA). The setup of the ICP-MS is summarized in Table 2. The ICP-MS was calibrated using MERCK XVII multi-element ICP-MS calibration standards (Merck KGaA, Germany), which was diluted with 3% nitric acid (HNO₃).

Table 2: Setup of the ICP-MS

RF power	1550 W
Plasma gas	Argon, 151 min-1
Peristaltic pump speed	0/3 rps
Autosampler	ASX-520 (Agilent)
Measuring mode	Helium and no gas

Digestion Procedure of samples:

1gm of each sample (1:1:1 weight ratio of various parts of the plant) was digested in nitic acid/Perchloric acid (6:1) using wet digestion method by heating slowly on a hot plate until white residue was obtained. Residue dissolved in0.1N Nitric acid and volume was made upto10 ml. The digested sample were analyzed ICP-MS Instrument.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The list of macro- and microelements determined by using ICP-MS technique were given in the Table 3. Totally twenty-elements (Li, Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cs, Ba and Tl) were identified in these medicinal plants.

Table 3: Average elemental concentration in ppm

S. No.	E/ SMPL	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5
1	Li	0.4227	0.2856	0.8271	0.576	0.6126
2	Be	0.0288	0.0573	0.0681	0.0465	0.0429
3	Al	888.9306	910.1811	2125.42	2339.379	933.5943
4	V	1.8621	1.3104	5.8191	7.3026	1.6035
5	Cr	2.3388	3.7809	9.3288	11.0496	2.3889
6	Mn	35.4621	46.0071	74.6631	110.8185	46.6533
7	Fe	745.6272	803.8353	2537.924	7324.96	839.9454
8	Co	0.4311	0.3669	1.2534	2.3271	0.5535
9	Ni	2.1762	1.0818	3.5691	5.4741	2.5107
10	Cu	6.0105	3.6711	5.829	6.7827	8.0259
11	Zn	28.1688	31.8423	8.922	22.4508	36.3324
12	Ga	6.072	10.6188	24.2607	8.9178	4.9005
13	As	0.2478	0.7194	0.4248	2.1501	0.2013
14	Se	0.2175	0.1428	0.2574	0.4335	0.1428
15	Rb	20.2239	10.1466	21.273	4.7151	14.9397
16	Sr	189.4548	116.9598	135.9216	26.7393	45.4971
17	Ag	0.0723	0.2178	0.0291	0.039	0.0627
18	Cs	0.111	0.0675	0.2574	0.0387	0.1833
19	Ba	31.7748	56.7672	98.7327	44.0988	24.5046
20	ti	0.0213	0.0255	0.0456	0.0309	0.0138

An examination of data from the table indicates that the content of various metals in the plant extracts. Concentration of chromium is found to be higher in Andropogan zizanioides (11.0496 ppm) than the Cyathula prostrate (9.3288 ppm), Hemidesmus indicus (3.7809), Momordica charantia (2.3889) and Withania somnifera (2.3388). Chromium acts as an activator in most of the enzymes and helpful in lipoproteins, carbohydrate and nucleic acid metabolism. Higher concentration of chromium causes damage of kidney, liver and lung whereas deficiency causes decreasing insulin activity which is responsible for increasing cholesterol and sugar level in the animal body.

Figure 1: Chromium and Manganese Conc. (ppm).

Concentration of Chromium and Manganese for various medical plants was reported for in Figure 1. Higher concentration of Manganese was reported in Andropogan zizanioides (110.8185 ppm) than the Cyathula prostrate (74.6631 ppm), Momordica charantia (46.6533 ppm), Hemidesmus indicus (46.0071 ppm), and Withania somnifera (35.4621 ppm). Manganese is the second most important minor element present in plant and animal body which required in various biochemical reactions. In animal body Manganese is stored in kidney and liver and it is essential for normal functioning of reproductive and central nervous system⁹. Manganese deficiency causes the reproduction failure in male and female. Mn phytotoxicity is manifested in a reduction of biomass and photosynthesis, and biochemical disorders such as oxidative stress¹⁰. Some investigations regarding toxicity of manganese and its translocation from soil to plants confirmed that their importance under low pH and redox potential conditions in the soil. Manganese is present in mitochondria activate enzymes like hydrolases, transferases, kinases, and decarboxylases and is a ingredient of some enzymes¹¹. One of the most well-known manganese metalloenzyme is pyruvate carboxylase, which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate 2. Other enzymes include arginase, which is involved in the conversion of the amino acid arginine to urea, and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD). Aluminium hydroxide is used in treatment of ulcers and kidney. Salts of aluminium used in synthesis of cosmetics, medicine and control the sweat on the skin.

Concentration of Iron and Aluminium for various medical plants was reported for in Figure 2. Higher concentration of Iron was recorded in Andropogan zizanioides (7324.9599 ppm) as compared to Cyathula prostrate (2537.9241 ppm), Momordica charantia (839.9454 ppm), Withania somnifera (745.6272 ppm) and Hemidesmus indicus (803.8353 ppm). Iron is most important minor element which is central atom of hemoglobin, hence it plays vital role in blood formation. Iron is also essential for the normal functioning of central nervous system¹². Andropogan zizanioides showed cobalt concentration as 2.3471 ppm and Cyathula prostrate, Momordica charantia, Withania somnifera and Hemidesmus indicus are showed as 1.2534, 0.5535, 0.4311 and 0.3669 ppm, respectively.

Concentration of Cobalt, Nickel, Copper and Zinc for various medical plants was reported for in Figure 3. In present study, trace elements like Cobalt, Nickel, Copper and Zinc are also detected as 2.1762, 6.0105 and 28.1688 ppm for Withania somnifera, 1.0818, 3.6711 and 31.8423 ppm for Hemidesmus indicus, 1.2534, 3.5691 and 5.829 ppm for Cyathula prostrate 2.3271, 5.4741 and 6.7827 ppm for Andropogan zizanioides and 0.5535, 2.5107 and 8.0258 ppm for Momordica charantia, respectively. Cobalt is main part of vitamin B-12 and help to make DNA and blood cells¹³.

Figure 2: Iron and Aluminium conc. (ppm).

Its deficiency causes serious problem in biological processes. Boron and Molybdenum was totally absent in these plants. Copper, Boron and Molybdenum are essential for the growth as well as health of the animals and plants. Copper deficiency may cause anemia, bone changes and neutropenia in animals¹⁴. Nickel may act as a nucleic acid stabilizer as it is present in DNA and RNA¹⁵. The high concentration of copper in the foetal liver is remarkable. Not only is there a massive buildup of liver copper in the normal child during the last three months of pregnancy, but the effect lasts about 4 years, by which time liver copper will have normally reverted to adult levels. This buildup of liver copper ensures adequate supplies for the infant in the first few months¹⁶.

The high liver copper may simply be a reflection of the high demand of the foetus for copper. It must be said, however, that growth rates in the newborn appear to be more closely related to zinc than to copper. Above discussed all the elements are having vital role in the all function and need of the body. These all-important elements are present in the both formulation so these both formulations may be useful to the human being in the cure treatment and prevention of the many diseases. Zinc is important element in metabolism of several biochemical reactions in animals and plants¹⁷. Zinc is essential for normal development and function of cell-mediating innate immunity, neutrophils, and natural killer cells¹⁸. Concentration of Zinc play important role in Phagocytosis, cytokines production, growth and function of T and B cells, DNA synthesis, RNA transcription and cell activation¹⁹.

Figure 3: Cobalt, Nickel, Copper and Zinc conc. (ppm).

CONCLUSIONS:

In view of above fact, the Indian rich medicinal plants Withania somnifera, Hemidesmus indicus, Cyathula prostrate, Andropogan zizanioides and Momordica charantia were studied for understanding the role of elements in pharmacological properties. The results have been found important to correlate elemental concentration and therapeutic activity of these plants. The variation of elements and traces of some heavy and toxic metals have been detected in these plants because of the soil characteristics, selective element accumulating ability of plants and increased environmental pollution. These plants have ability to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from the soil. Thus, result of present investigation has shown that these plants are good absorbent of heavy and toxic metals; therefore, it is used for removal of toxic and heavy metals from soil which consequently controls the soil pollution. These findings revealed concentrations of heavy and toxic metals below the permissible level as per World Health Organization therefore; it may not be hazardous to human health. The medicinally important trace elements have been detected in various concentrations which provide support to pharmacological properties of these plants. The present study shows elemental concentration in adequate amount, which is helpful to prove therapeutic activity and curative ability of these plants against diseases. The results will be helpful to design new herbal drugs which may be more effective to control and cure various newly emerged dangerous health problems in future. It could be important to discriminate nutritive values which are helpful for improving pharmaceutical significance of these plants.

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Received on 10.12.2018 Modified on 31.12.2018

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2019; 12(4):1595-1600.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2019.00265.8