Elemental Study of Some Selected Medicinal Plants in the Gulbarga Region by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Technique

Abstract

Medicinal plants are extensively used in traditional healthcare systems because of their therapeutic properties and nutritional value. In recent years, they have also gained considerable attention in the green synthesis of nanoparticles for nano-drug development. The formulation of plant-based nanomedicines requires proper understanding and quantitative evaluation of essential elements, as these factors significantly influence safety, therapeutic efficacy, and nanoparticle synthesis. Due to their wide range of medicinal applications, these plants serve as important raw materials for herbal formulations, nutritional supplements, and emerging nano-drug technologies. In the present investigation, leaves of selected medicinal plants, namely Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), were collected from the Gulbarga region of Karnataka, where they are widely used in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine. The collected plant samples were authenticated, shade-dried, powdered, and digested following standard procedures. The samples were subsequently analyzed for the quantitative estimation of essential elements using the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) technique to evaluate their suitability for the preparation of herbal medicines and nano-drugs. FAAS is an effective analytical technique for determining the concentration of essential elements present in medicinal plants. The analyzed elements included Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn. The results revealed that essential elements such as Fe, Zn, Cu, Ca, and Mg were present in appreciable quantities, thereby contributing to the medicinal importance of the selected plant species. The study scientifically validates the traditional significance of these medicinal plants and highlights their potential applications in herbal drug formulation and future pharmaceutical research. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of FAAS-based quantitative elemental analysis as a reliable, sensitive, and cost-effective method for quality control, safety assessment, optimization of plant extracts in the development of Ayurvedic medicines and eco-friendly nano-drugs.