Abstract
Herbal medications are claimed and widely believed to be beneficial; however, there have been reports of acute and chronic intoxications resulting from their use. Hence it is necessary for the herbal companies to follow the GMP and WHO guidelines for determination of toxicological parameters while manufacturing the Herbal Medicines. In the present study, physicochemical analysis of ash of Ammania baccifera L. (Family: Lythraceae), Azima tetracantha Lam (Family: Salvadoraceae), Melothria maderaspatana (L.) Cogn. (Family: Cucurbitaceae) parts were carried out. Atomic absorption spectroscopy, flame photometry, UV spectrophotometry were used for quantitative estimation while chemical methods applied for qualitative estimation of minerals in plants ash. The results obtained provide justification for the usage of these plants in daily diet for nutrition as well as for medicinal usage and medicinal plants in the treatment of different diseases. The metal contents in the samples were found at different levels which play a vital role in cure of diseases. It is found that A. baccifera, A. tetracantha and M. madaraspatana showed maximum concentration of calcium while, A. tetracantha showed maximum results with potassium. A. baccifera and A. tetracantha showed the toxic elements Pb, Cd, Hg and As at BDL (Below the Detection level) (DL 0.1mg/kg) and M. madaraspatana, toxic elements Cd and Pb were found but at very low concentrations whereas Hg and As were found at BDL.