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            0974-360X (Online)

 

 

RESEARCH ARTICLE

 

Heavy Metal and Trace Element Analysis of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W. Hill

 

T.Sheelarani1*, V. Gopal2, S. Seethalakshmi3, K. Chitra1

1Faculty of Pharmacy,  Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai

2Mother Theresa Post Graduate Institute of Health Sciences, Pondicherry

3ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR, KK Nagar, Chennai

*Corresponding Author E-mail:

 

ABSTRACT:

Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill is medicinally valuable plant reported to possess number of medicinal values belonging to the family Oleaceae. It is a large woody climbing shrub with quadrangular stems. The roots of the plant are widely used I the treatment of wounds, inflammation, scabies etc. Iridiod glycosides have been isolated from the single leaf of herbarium of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill. The prescribed levels of heavy metal and trace element were studied in order to evaluate the safety profile of the drug. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for the analysis of by wet digestion method .From the results obtained the plant contain trace of heavy metals and they are found to be within prescribed limit. The concentration of trace elements like Copper, Zinc, iron is found to within prescribed limit as per WHO Guidelines. These findings such as heavy metal and trace element will generally suggest the use of plant in various health ailments.

 

KEYWORDS: Iridiod glycosides , Copper, Zinc, iron.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Herbal medicine play a prominent roil in Pharmaceutical markets and health care sector .For the proper functioning of vital organs Heavy metals as a micronutrients are very important .Example iron is a important component of hemoglobin. As a result of geo climate and environment pollution heavy metals may be widespread in soil. So there presence is quite obvious in plants. Through air and water human beings take metals from the environment. Heavy metals have the tendency to accumulate in both plants and human organs. Its highly beneficial and necessary to monitor the level of heavy metals in plant materials as they are concerned by man for medicinal purposes. Phytochemical and invitro activities have been carried out already the presence of heavy metals have not yet been reported. This study is designed to establish the presence of heavy metal and trace element analysis in Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill(aerial parts) which is commonly used in treatment  and prevention of wounds, inflammation etc

 

Received on 05.03.2015          Modified on 01.04.2015

Accepted on 08.04.2015        © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 8(9): Sept, 2015; Page 1197-1198

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2015.00218.8

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1-4

The aerial parts of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W Hill were shade dried and coarsely powdered. The powdered drugs were subjected to Heavy metal and trace element analysis.

 

Preparation of Standard Solution:

To obtain calibration graph five different concentrations were prepared by diluting stock solution (1000 ppm) of each element.

 

Preparation of Sample Solution:

·        Wet digestion method was used for digesting the sample

·        Transfer 2 gm of dried sample and 10 ml of nitric acid in 100 ml beaker and heat at 95°C  in a hot plate for about fifteen minutes 

·        The digest was cooled and add about 5 ml of concentrated nitric acid and additional heat for about 30 minutes at 95°C

·        Repetition of last step was done without oiling the solution and it was reduced to 5 ml.

·        Sample was concentrated again add 3 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide and 2 ml of deionizer water

·        The beaker was covered  to start the peroxide reaction and the sample was hated gently

·        If vigorous effervescence was excessive form the hot plate the sample was removed and 1 ml of 30%Hydrogen peroxide gentle heat the solution until effervescence subsides

·        To this add 5 ml of concentrated Hydrochloric acid and 10 ml of deionizer water additionally the sample was heated without boiling

·        After cooling the sample was filtered through Whitman filter paper (no 42) using deionizer water the sample was diluted to 50 ml

 

Sample Analysis:

The sample which was digested and analyzed for Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Magnesium, Copper using flame atomic absorption spectrometer and arsenic and mercury using hydride generation technique. By using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy mercury was analyzed. Standard stock solution (1000ppm) were diluted in five different concentration to plot the calibration graph Triplicate measurements were run for sample and standard solution.

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Heavy metal like Lead (1.2ppm), Mercury (0.110), Chromium (0.2535) of the aerial parts was found to be within the limit as per WHO Guidelines. The aerial parts of the plant were free from Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel proving the safety profile of the drug to be used in herbal formulation .Mineral elements such as Zinc (0.33), Iron (0.334/gm) which are in trace amount may be useful in managing many disorders.

 

Heavy Metal Analysis and Trace Element Analysis of Myxopyrum Serratulum

SL. No

Elements

Quantity

1

Mercury

0.110ppm

2

Arsenic

Nil

3

Chromium

0.2535

4

Nickel

Nil

5

Lead

1.2 ppm

6

Cadmium

Nil

Trace elements

SL. No

Elements

Quantity

7

Copper

Nil

8

Zinc

0.33ppb

9

Potassium

5.4 mg/ gm

10

Iron

0.334mg/ gm

11

Selenium

In traces

Since heavy metal concentration of raw material is found within prescribed limits it supports the safety of plant to use as a raw material in herbal formulation. Trace elements present in the raw material indicates its role in secondary metabolite production in plants.

 

CONCLUSION:

Medicinal plants are accepted by most of the world population but monitoring of plants is in child wood stage. This study illustrated that the heavy metal and trace elements are found to be within prescribed limits as per WHO Guidelines. This Study also determines the safety profile of the raw material to be used in preparation of herbal medicine.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Ajasa MA, Bello OM, Ogunwande AI, Olawore ON. Heavy trace metals and macronutrient status in herbal plants of Nigeria. Food Chemistry 85(2004):67-71.

2.       Logan TJ, Goins LE, Lindsay BJ. Field assessment of trace element uptake by six vegetables from n-Viro soil. Water and Environmental Research 69 (1997):28-33.

3.       Patwardhan B, Warude D, Pushpangadan P, Bhatt N. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine: a comparative overview. Evidence Based Complement Alternative Medicine 2, (2005)465-473.

4.       World Health Organization (WHO). Quality Control methods for medicinal plant materials. Geneva WHO. 1998.

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