Elemental analysis of some Indian medicinal plants by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique

Abstract

The trace element analysis was carried out in Ocimum sanctum, Catharanthus roseus, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Azadirachta indica, Aegle marmelos, Zingiber officinale, Emblica officinalis, Anacardium occidentale, Momordica charantia and Syzygium cumini using Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. A 2 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. The experiments were carried out using 3MV pelletron accelerator. The elements K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr and Pb were identified to be prominently present in all the above medicinal plants. The elements K and Ca were present in very small quantities. The relative concentrations of different elements in different medicinal plants have been given.