Essential and Non-Essential Elemental Composition of Five Different Major Parts of Butea monosperma (Palash) by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES)

Abstract

Butea monosperma (BM) (lim.) Kuntz also known as flame of forest is being used in traditional medicines to treat so many disease conditions. Preliminary phytochemical screening of this plant revealed the following-Alkaloids, cynogenic glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and saponins. It contains butrin, isobutrin, butin, palasitrin, and butein. The present study aimed at investigating the metal composition of five major parts of BM using a highly sensitive Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Eighteen essential minerals elements viz Ag, Ba, Be, Bi, B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Sr, V and Zn) and three non-essential elements (As, Cd, Pb) were determined for the first time in B. monosperma. Wet digestion method using a mixture of 2 ml of concentrated HNO3:HClO4 (4:1 v/v), 1 ml H2O2 and 1ml miliQ water was used for digestion of the samples using microwave in a Microwave Digestion System (MDS) and analyzed by ICP-OES. The concentration of toxic elements viz As and Pb detected were found below the FAO/WHO maximum permissible limit; hence they are safe for human consumption. This study provides information on the nutritive value of B. monosperma which indicates that it is good for health and also serves as a good source of essential nutrients and has low levels of toxic elements.