Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Heavy metal toxicity is a primary matter of concern due to ecological and nutritional reasons. Determination of minerals and heavy metal concentration in herbal remedies is crucial to assure their biosafety. The present research study was designed to estimate the concentration of some trace elements v.i.z. Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca) and heavy metals v.i.z. Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) in Piper betle L. and Jatropha gossypifolia L. dried leaf powder. The dried leaf powder of selected medicinal plants was wet digested using nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid as specified. The quantitative estimation of trace elements and heavy metals was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) by plotting standard calibration curve of different metals. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed by student's‘t’ test. Values are considered significant at P < 0.05. The order of concentration of metals in P. betle L.dried leafpowder was found to be: Mg> Ca >Zn> Cu > As> Cd=Hg andin J. gossypifolia L. dried leaf powder was found to be: Ca > Mg > Zn > Cu > Cd = As = Hg. The concentration of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg) was found to be within limit and for heavy metals (Cd, As, Hg) below the detection limit when compared with standard values. On this basis, it can be concluded that both plant materials were found to be safe.