Evaluation of essential and non-essential elemental composition of commonly used medicinal plants from district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract This study illustrates a profile of some essential and non-essential elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr, Cd, Co, Al and Sn) in the aerial parts of six medicinal plants i.e Coriandrum sativum (P-1), Mentha spicata (P-2), Papaver somniferum (P-3), Calotropis gigantean (P-4), Withania coagulans (P-5) and Fagonia arabica (P-6) widely consumed in district Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The samples were converted into liquid state via wet digestion method and analyzed for elemental composition by using atomic absorption spectrometry. After determining the concentration, hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated for the elements having available maximum permissible limit set by FAO/WHO or any other agency for 50 mg daily intake of the herbal plants by a person of body mass 70 kg. K/Na ratio for the studied plants varied between 14.88:1 and 113.75:1 which was in agreement with the reported permissible range. The amount of Mg, Ca, Cu and Co was within the permissible limit in all the enlisted plants. However, the HQ value for Mg and Ca was greater than the safe limit for some of the plants. The concentration and HQ value of Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr and Cd was beyond the permissible and unsafe limits for almost all the plants. This study suggests that the plants of this area must be pretreated for lessening the concentration of some elements before consumption.