Determination of Mineral Constituents in Medicinally Important Plants Nigella sativa, Myristicafragrans Houtt and Allium sativum Linn. Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Medicinal properties   have been  attributed to  a large variety   of plants  cultivated  indifferent  parts  of  Pakistan.  Only  few    of  these  plants have  been  analyzed   for  their  mineralcontent and   large  number  remain  analyzed.    It  is imperative   to analyze  the plants  for  their trace   element  content,  which   have  healing  power     for   mankind  in  numerous   ailment  and disorders.Present  study  has  been  undertaken    in our  laboratories to  see  the commonly occurring elements  among  some  medicinal plants   and   in  its decoction   such  as Nigella      sativa, Allium sativum,  Myristica fragram      houtt,  for   fifteen  elements  has   been  carried   out   using  atomic absorption  spectrophotometer. Two   procedures   were  employed  for  decomposition  of organic matter  present  in   the   plant  samples. The   result  obtained   from   both  the  procedures    was compared   with  each  other. For  all  three plant samples relatively higher    results  were  obtained when samples    were decomposed   with  Nitric  acid  and Hydrogen   per  oxide  mixture. The  level of essential  elements  was  to be  found high  as compared  to concentration of toxic elements. The level of important elements such as Zinc, Iron was present in considerable amount.

S R SAHITO ,T G KAZI ,G H KAZI ,M A JAKHRANI ,