Determination of Mineral Composition in Some Medicinal Plants and Their Extracts for Use as Herbal Formulations

Abstract

Introduction: Herbal products are traditionally used as medicines in Asia and Africa. Herbal medicines have become increasingly popular. Herbal preparations have been used preferentially to prevent diseases both in humans and animals. Several medicinal plants are advocated to improve general health. The contribution of minerals from these products may be an important factor for their medicinal properties. Elements like calcium, potassium, iron and chromium have been recognized as nutritional elements, while cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury have toxic effects on human health.

Aims and objective: The aim of the study is to select some important herbal plants with medicinal importance to study the presence of mineral composition for their use as herbal formulations.

Result: Nineteen selected Indian medicinal plants and their extracts were analyzed for the content of calcium, potassium, iron, chromium, cadmium and lead. The results of the study reveals that the nutritional elements are in the range: calcium (herb 8.8 – 38.9 mg/gm and extract 3.55 – 35.0 mg/gm) potassium (0.52 – 43.3 mg/gm and 0.26 – 23.75 mg/gm) iron (0.08 – 2.15 mg/gm and 0.02 – 0.36 mg/gm) chromium (0.0002 – 0.01 mg/gm and <0.0001 – 0.002 mg/gm). Toxic elements; cadmium (herb <0.00001 – 0.0007 mg/gm and extract <0.00001 – 0.00005 mg/gm) and lead (<0.0001 – 0.003 mg/gm and <0.0001 – 0.0009 mg/gm).

Conclusion: The toxic elements like cadmium and lead concentrations are found moderately high in some medicinal plants, but in the safe limits in their extracts.  As such, standardized extracts may be preferred in herbal formulations.