Investigation of macro and micro-nutrients in selected medicinal plants

Heavy metals contents including Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd and Ag and inorganic constituents like HCO3-, CO3-2, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl-, Na+, K+, SO4-2, NO3-, Fe+2 and F- are quantitatively determined in Citrolus colocynthis, Opuntia monocantha, Gallium apparine, Foeniculum vulgare, Equisetum arvensis, Hypericum perforatum, Carthamus lanatus and Cichorium intybus collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are of Pakistan using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer techniques. The study showed that the level of Fe was found very high as compared to Zn and Ag. In case of the inorganic constituents, the level of the components was found high except florid and potassium with very low concentration. All the parameters were found below the maximum permissible level. These results obtained from the current study are of particular importance by providing a scientific data base which will be very helpful for pharmaceutical consumption and for the local practitioners using these herbs for different types of ailments. Key words: Medicinal plants, inorganic constituents, heavy metals, atomic absorption spectrophotometer.