Proximate analysis and Metal analysis of medicinal plants (Inula crithmoides and Heliotropium eichwaldii) from district Karak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Medicinal plants are major source of drugs used for the treatment of various diseases. In the present study Inula Crithomoides and Heliotropium eichwaldii have been analyzed due to its wide application in the indigenous medicinal system and the importance of its chemical constituents. The concentration of ash and fats were determined using Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) method and soxhlet apparatus respectively. Heavy metals were analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrometer and flame photometer. Heavy metals like Pb, Fe, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ca, Na and K were detected in all samples of both plant species in different concentration range. In some of the samples the concentration found was higher than the allowed limit while the highest concentration of ash and fat were 21.11% and18.05% respectively.