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This comprehensive review investigates the dynamic landscape of trace elemental analysis methodologies applied to plants and food-based extracts. The exploration spans from the inception of techniques to the latest procedures, contributing to heightened precision and sensitivity in elemental detection. According to the WHO, herbal plants and medicine from varied soil compositions serve as crucial therapeutic agents for 70–80 % of the world's population. Yet, their susceptibility to trace element toxicity poses a significant risk to human health. Rising population and increased food demands have led to environmental pollution, contaminating the food chain through unintended activities like industrialization, mining, and pesticide production. The elemental composition of plants and derived extracts is central to comprehending nutritional profiles, evaluating product quality, and ensuring food safety. Methodological advancements, progressing from manual procedures to sophisticated technologies such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), neutron activation analysis (NAA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are delineated. Recent strides in paper-based electrochemical sensors are highlighted for their distinctive capabilities and elucidation of associated advantages and limitations.Moreover, the review delves into innovative sample preparation methodologies, encompassing microwave-assisted digestion and solid-phase microextraction, to amplify the efficiency of elemental extraction and subsequent analysis. Integrating data analytics and machine learning in elucidating complex elementary datasets is explored, underscoring the potential for heightened accuracy and automation in trace elemental analysis. This review compiles literature data, summarizing sample preparation methods for various herbal parts (roots, soil, stems, bark, fruits, food). Standard protocols from WHO, United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary (USP-FR), Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) are considered. Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic are the primary toxic elements of concern in herbal medicines. This review furnishes valuable insights tailored for researchers, analysts, and policymakers actively involved in advancing the domain of trace elemental analysis in plants and food-based extract.

Background: Lapis judaicus, or Jews stone (Badarashma), has been used in treating kidney and bladder stones since ancient times by Ayurvedic and Unani medicinal practitioners. A limited number of studies have been carried out using Ayurvedic preparations derived from gems or precious stones that were used traditionally. In Ayurveda, Rasa Shastra includes the fabrication of Bhasmas and Pishti. Objective: This study aimed to prepare and characterize Badarashma Pishti formulation (Lapis judaicus microparticles) and investigate its structural and thermal properties. Materials and methods: The microparticles were prepared by subjecting purified powder of Lapis judaicus to a wet levigation (Bhavana) process. Characterizations were done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetry analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Physicochemical characterization, elemental analysis, particle size distribution study, and identification of heavy metals were also performed. Results: A standard operating procedure was developed to formulate Badarashma Pishti. The obtained microparticles were irregularly shaped with a size of 4.290 ± 0.472 μm, confirmed in SEM images. The FTIR and XRD of prepared Badarashma Pishti samples revealed the presence of calcite, quartz, and aragonite minerals. The results of EDAX also confirmed the presence of Ca, Mg, O, and Si elements. Conclusion: The proposed study results reveal great insights for determining the authenticity, purity, and standardization parameters of inorganic mineral drugs, proving to be a useful delivery system for treating renal calculi.

Shilajit is an ancient herbal medicine from India with many uses. It is a viscous material prominently present in the Himalayan and Hindukush rocks of the Indian region. The formation due to plant decompostion with time. Herbs assosciated to the stones reveals about composition of Shilajit. Primary objective is to create GCMS/MS and LC-analysis techniques for separating the phytochemicals and complete profiling of volatile and non-volatile metabolites found in Shilajit. Accordingly, an attempt was undertaken to develop a method for standardisation and, subsequently, certification inorganic content and purity of shilajit in various indian regions S-01, S-02, S-03, S-04, and S-05. Thus, an effort was made to create a fundamental technique for standardization and, consequently, authentication of shilajit that was acquired from various geographical locations.Trace metal concentrations were measured using ICP OES in mg Kg−1 for each sample. These elements included As, Pb, Cd, Ag, Al, B, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, Se, Zn, P, Ca, K, Mg, and Na. ICP OES analysis observed the significant concentration of Ca and K, in S-01 (102631 and 26779), S-02 (13529.25 and 36866.35), S-03 (8170.84 and 37989.10), S-04 (9616.37 and 18843.77), and S-05 (4992.10 and 2120.64), appropriately. By measuring the DPPH radical scavenging activity were assessed for their antioxidant activities of the S-01, S-02, S-03, S-04, and S-05 samples: 12.316 ± 0.561 %, 13.144 ± 2.884 %, 15.105 ± 1.421 %, 19.683 ± 2.013 %, and 0.0724 ± 1.045 %, respectively. Concurrently, TPC studies on Shilajit found between 10 and 150 mg g−1 wt Similarly, shilajit’s TFC was analysed with geographically. TFC were found in mg QCE/g of wt of S-01 12.56, S-02 5.56, S-03.48, S-04 49.23, and S-05 5809 each respectively. The phytochemicals protocatechuic acid and hippuric were tested for in silico anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activity of acid, which need to be explored in-vivo applications.

Abstract Agro-waste is the outcome of the under-utilization of bioresources and a lack of knowledge to re-use this waste in proper ways or a circular economy approach. In the Indian medicinal system, the root of Cyperus scariosus (CS) is used at a large scale due to their vital medicinal properties. Unfortunately, the aerial part of CS is treated as agro-waste and is an under-utilized bioresource. Due to a lack of knowledge, CS is treated as a weed. This present study is the first ever attempt to explore CS leaves as medicinally and a nutrient rich source. To determine the food and nutritional values of the neglected part of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. (CS), i.e. CS leaves, phytochemicals and metal ions of CS were quantified by newly developed HPLC and ICPOES-based methods. The content of the phytochemicals observed in HPLC analysis for caffeic acid, catechin, epicatechin, trans-p-coumaric acid, and trans-ferulic acid was 10.51, 276.15, 279.09, 70.53, and 36.83 µg/g, respectively. In GC–MS/MS analysis, fatty acids including linolenic acid, phytol, palmitic acid, etc. were identified. In ICPOES analysis, the significant content of Na, K, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn was observed. The TPC and TFC of the CS leaves was 17.933 mg GAE eq./g and 130.767 mg QCE eq./g along with an IC50 value of 2.78 mg/mL in the DPPH assay and better antacid activity was measured than the standard (CaCO3). The methanolic extract of CS leaves showed anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (15 ± 2 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 ± 2 mm) and Escherichia coli (10 ± 2 mm). In silico studies confirmed the in vitro results obtained from the antioxidant, antiacid, and anti-microbial studies. In addition, in silico studies revealed the anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory potential of the CS leaves. This study, thus, demonstrated the medicinal significance of the under-utilized part of CS and the conversion of agro-waste into mankind activity as a pharmaceutical potent material. Consequently, the present study highlighted that CS leaves have medicinal importance with good nutritional utility and have a large potential in the pharmaceutical industry along with improving bio-valorization and the environment.

The stem bark of Salix alba (SA) is extensively used in herbal medicine and nutraceuticals. The non-availability of quality standard available for SA stem bark in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India (API) leads inability to trace adulteration. In the current study, quality standard of SA stem bark has been developed in the interest of quality control, as per international standards including API parameters. The geographical changes could play a vital role in phytochemicals’ and nutrients’ variations. Hence, the samples from different geolocations and markets were analysed along with the cultivated plant sample. A comprehensive study including identification and authentication by DNA barcoding and pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical and phytochemical analysis by HPTLC was carried out. Moreover, a validated HPLC method was developed for the quantification of three phytochemicals (Salicin, Procyanidin B1 and Catechin) for the standardization of SA stem bark. The complete profiling of volatile metabolites and non-volatile metabolites was done by using GC–MS and LC-MS techniques, respectively. In ICP-OES based elemental analysis, heavy metals were observed below permissible limits, and SA stem bark has shown significant amount of essential metal ions like Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn. The observed total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) for all samples of SA stem bark ranged from 16.69 to 50.30 mg GAE/ g of wt. and 124.57 to 347.76 mg QCE/ g of wt., respectively. In DPPH assay, the observed IC50 values of SA stem bark ranged from 0.58 to 2.08 mg/mL. In antibacterial assay, SA stem bark has shown promising results against S. aureus and B. subtilis strains with inhibition zones of 20 ± 4 mm. Overall, this is first report comprising of advanced quality standard and detailed standardization of SA stem bark with quantification of three important phytochemicals by HPLC along with the quantification of essential metal ions and other in vitro assays. Moreover, the study revealed that the fresh stem bark sample may contain significant content of phytochemicals and antibacterial activity.

Adiantum venustum D. Don (Himalayan or Evergreen maiden hair fern), also known as ‘Hansraj’ in India, is a pteridophytes that grows extensively in tropical and temperate areas. It has been used in traditional medicines to treatment cough, cold, fever, and headache. However, the information available is scarce and scattered. So, the primary goal of this review is to provide complete and updated knowledge about the distribution, morphology, pharmacognostic characteristics, chemistry and biological activities of A. venustum to assess its therapeutic potential and future research opportunities. Different parts of this fern have been extensively used in traditional medicines to treatment diseases from time immemorial. It is a reservoir of active chemical compounds like terpenoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, sterol, carotenoids and others, which possesses antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, and anti-analgesic properties. The current review has been designed to provide the upto-date knowledge and perspectives about A. venustum and its potential use as a therapeutic plant. So, researchers should take a keen interest in exploring and isolating new active components, bio-assay their pharmaceutical values and mode of action, and conducting clinical trials to justify their reported studies on human health benefits.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be an inflammatory disorder whereas OA is not an overtly inflammatory disorder as RA but certain inflammatory cytokines and periodic inflammation are observed to be involved in its progression. The pathophysiology of arthritis involves a cascade of processes taking place; therefore, arthritis necessitates a multidimensional approach for its management. Numerous conventional anti-arthritic drugs have been employed to relieve arthritis conditions but their efficacy and tolerability can be overshadowed by the reported deleterious effects on human health. Therefore, the pressing priority is to explore the complementary and alternative treatment options i.e., traditional medicine, medicinal plants and their phytochemicals, which exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activities with less deleterious effects on human health. The present review summarizes such potential medicinal plants and natural bio-active compounds against arthritis on the basis of their potent anti-inflammatory activities demonstrated in various in vitro, in vivo studies, other preclinical and clinical studies in order to facilitate researchers to develop phytomedicines against arthritis.