Screening of Indian Withania Plant and marketed products for trace elements, heavy metals for quality and efficacy

Abstract

An attempt was made to analyze some heavy metals and trace elements like As, Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ca and Cu present in Withania somnifera. A total of 30 samples representing Withania somnifera fresh roots, dried roots and marketed formulations (ten each) collected from different places were subjected to heavy metal analysis using Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The study showed differences in metal concentrations according to the categories of samples analysed (dried roots, fresh roots and marketed formulations). The obtained results which showed the predominance of Pb in almost all the analysed samples followed by As, Hg and Cd. However among the trace elements the Ca was found to be dominant in concentration followed by Zn and Cu.