Characterization of trace elements in medicinal herbs by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Medicinal herbs are often used as alternative medicines for healing and controlling some diseases in the world. This study focuses on the content of heavy and trace elements of some widely consumed herbs in Libya. Nine most popular herbs were analyzed by k 0 -instrumental neutron activation analysis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2008-12, Vol.278 (3), p.559-563
Main Authors: Abugassa, I. O., Bashir, A. T., Doubali, K., Etwir, R. H., Abu-Enawel, M., Abugassa, S. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry and Biomedicine
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Diagnostic Radiology
Hadrons
Heavy Ions
Inorganic Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Physics
Physical Chemistry
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Summary:Medicinal herbs are often used as alternative medicines for healing and controlling some diseases in the world. This study focuses on the content of heavy and trace elements of some widely consumed herbs in Libya. Nine most popular herbs were analyzed by k 0 -instrumental neutron activation analysis. All the samples, SRM and flux monitors were irradiated for 7 and 10 hours under thermal neutron flux of 1.3·10 13 cm −2 ·s −1 at Tajoura nuclear reactor. In total, 33 elements were analyzed in different herbs. The variations in the concentration of the elements are attributed to soil composition and the climate in which the plant grows. The study showed that the toxic elements found in the samples were below the levels prescribed by health regulations. The precision and the accuracy of the results were evaluated by analyzing the reference materials Pine Needles SRM 1575 and Citrus Leaves SRM1572.
ISSN:0236-5731
1588-2780
DOI:10.1007/s10967-008-1005-z