Quantitative Trace Elemental Screening of Potential Medicinal plants

Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique is used to identify and quantify the thirteen trace elements, namely, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, and Sr in 10 medicinal plant species growing in Telangana State used for against jaundice. The EDXRF spectra were analyzed using nEXT software. The accuracy of the technique is assured by analyzing the standard reference materials. The results of the present study provide justification for the usage of indigenous medicinal plants in the treatment of jaundice since they are found to contain the elements such as Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, and Se that contribute to the activation of specific enzymes that play a key role in many pathways of the important organ systems of the human body. Finally, the present study investigated that, major, minor and trace elements present in selected medicinal plant species are not harmful to human beings while toxic elements such as Al, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg were not found.