Elemental Content of Some Anti-Diabetic Medicinal Plants Using PIXE Analysis

Abstract

Elemental analysis of some selected medicinal plants of northeast India having anti-diabetic property was conducted using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. Plant samples were excited with a 2.4-MeV proton beam from a 3-MV Tandetron accelerator, and the spectral data were analyzed by using GUPIX, a software package for fitting PIXE spectra from layered specimens. The elements K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr were identified and concentrations determined. No toxic heavy metals were found in the plants. The accuracy and precision of the technique were assured by analyzing standard reference materials. Results indicated that the analyzed medicinal plants could be considered potential sources for providing a reasonable amount of the required elements along with other food items to diabetes mellitus patients.

KEYWORDS:

• trace elements
• toxic elements
• diabetes mellitus

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the authority and supporting staffs of the Surface and Profile measurement laboratory of the National Centre for Compositional Characterization of Materials, Hyderabad, India, for providing the PIXE facility.