Elemental Analysis in the Indigenous Medicinal Plant Moringa oleifera and their Association with Ameliorative Activity

Trace elements aid numerous biochemical processes in the human body. The main cause of many health problems in man are either deficiency or excess of minerals. Hence, screening of the definite bio-active” constituents of plant source and evaluation of elemental composition of the extensively used medicinal plants is greatly vital. An effort was made to find out the elemental constituents of diverse parts of Moringa oleifera including fruit, leaves, bark, stem and flower at trace levels from Laki Marwat, Bannu and D.I. Khan. Trace elements were quantified applying atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The amount of Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) in stems, flowers, barks, leaves and fruits of Moringa oleifera from Laki Marwat is relatively greater than those of Bannu and D.I. Khan. The results reveal that the amounts of trace elements in various aerial parts of M. oleifera are highly dependent on harvesting sites.”Various aerial parts of M. oleifera were observed to have ample amounts of Zn, Se, Fe and Cu.

Shahnaz Dilawar, Afzal Shah, Shahnaz, Hidayat Ullah Khan, Saima Imad and KhaulaShirin