PIGE-PIXE analysis of medicinal plants and vegetables of pharmacological importance

Ion Beam Analysis of Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) Techniques for Elemental Investigation of Young Stage Neem Leaf of Southern India, Tamil Nadu

Young stage neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) was collected at Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu, South India. Multi-elemental analysis of neem leaf was carried out using non-destructive techniques (NDT) of proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE, 2.5 MeV) which is one of the well-known surface chemical sophisticated analytical methods of ion beam analyses (IBA). From the emitted X-ray output of the target specimen specimen fingerprint multi-elements such as, aluminium (Al), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and strontium (Sr) are found to be present in the leaf in different ppm levels. Among the elements, silicon (Si, 42034 + 1198.0 ppm) and potassium (K, 28985 + 747.8 ppm) showed the highest concentration. Minor elements (Mn, Sr, Fe, Zn, Cu and Ti) are observed in the neem plant. The variation in elemental concentration in the leaf may be due to soil, water, etc. However, there are no toxic elements observed like arsenic and lead in the leaf. Further, though the presence of different medicinal values in the target specimen chemical multi-elements observed in ppm level. However, there are more chemical analysis to be required for the functionalization of active biomedical applications for these kinds of medicinal species.

Cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects of the methanol extract Struchium sparganophora Ktze (Asteraceae) leaves

BACKGROUND

Global research into medicinal plants used in treating tumor-related ailments has become imperative due to the emergence of various forms of cancer diseases. Usually consumed as a vegetable, Struchium sparganophora is indicated in traditional herbal medicine as one of the plants used in treating tumor-related ailments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This claim was examined using bench-top assay methods involving the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract of the leaves to tadpoles of Raniceps ranninus at 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/ml. Also, the growth inhibitory effects of the extract on guinea corn radicle at 0.5, 1.0, 2 and 4 mg/ml in addition to evaluation of the phytochemical constituents of the leaves was performed. After 24 h, the crude extract and the chloroform fraction produced the highest cytotoxicity of 96.67 ± 4.71%, each at a concentration of 80 μg/ml, while the aqueous fraction produced 100% cytotoxicity at a concentration of 20 μg/ml.

RESULTS

The crude extract had an LC50 of 26 μg/ml, the chloroform fraction had 6.25 while the aqueous fraction had 5 μg/ml. On the inhibition of the guinea corn radicle growth, after 96 h, the controls had an average length of 67.81 ± 2.6 mm, whereas the seeds treated with 4 mg/ml of the crude extract had an average length of 35.83 ±1.75 mm, indicating 47.81% reduction in length. At the same concentration, the chloroform and the aqueous fractions showed 32.51 and 43.81% inhibitions. The plant material was observed to contain alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids, with no traces of anthracene derivatives.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest the probable use of the plant in preparing recipes for tumor-related ailments.

PIXE analysis of some medicinal plants used in cleaning teeth in southwestern Nigeria

Sixteen medicinal plants used for cleaning teeth in southwestern Nigeria were analyzed using the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. These medicinal plants have other therapeutic uses, but the emphasis and main focus were on their beneficial effects on human teeth. PIXE measurements were carried out using 1.8 MeV collimated proton beam from the 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Padova Italy. The results showed the presence of 18 different elements at different concentrations, 2 plants had traces of gold, and none of the plants contained any toxic heavy metals. The metabolic roles of the detected elements were discussed especially as they affected the formation, growth, development, and protection of human teeth. The results of this study are presented and discussed.

Determination of manganese in some medicinal plants and their infusions by a catalytic spectrophotometric method

The catalytic effect of manganese (II) on the oxidation of the azo dye 3-Methyl-6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-[2-methoxy-4-N (N, N diethylamino) phenylazo] benzothiazolium methylsulphate, with potassium periodate in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline in weakly acidic media was studied. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of the dye at 560 nm. Under the optimum conditions (4 x 10(-5) mol dm(-3) azo dye, 4 x 10(-4) mol dm(-3) potassium periodate, 1 x 10(-4) mol dm(-3) 1,10-phenanthroline, 0.1 mol dm(-3) buffer--pH 3.0, 70 degrees C, 8 min) manganese (II) in the range 0.1-5 ng cm(-3) could be determined by the fixed-time method with a detection limit of 0.035 ng cm(-3). The developed method is highly sensitive, selective, and simple. The method was applied successfully to the determination of total manganese in some medicinal plants and to analyse their infusions for trace amounts of total manganese and free manganese (II) ions without separation.

Determination of manganese (II) in some medicinal plants and their decoctions by a kinetic spectrophotometric method

The catalytic effect of manganese (II) on the oxidation of the azo dye tropaeolin 00 with potassium periodate in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline was investigated. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of the azo dye at 445 nm. Under the optimum analytical conditions, manganese (II) in the range 0.05-2.5 ng/mL could be determined by the fixed-time method with a detection limit of 0.02 ng/mL. The developed method is highly sensitive, selective and simple, and was applied successfully to analyse decoctions of some medicinal plants for trace amounts of total manganese (II) and free manganese (II) ions without separation.