Determination and Comparison of Trace Elements in Various Parts of Eichhornia crassipes by a Validated Method using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Objective : In this study, we have evaluated trace element concentration of various parts of Eicchornia crassipes, collected from three different lakes in Pune district, India.Methods : The dried segregated parts of Eicchornia crassipes were subjected to microwave digestion, followed by measurement with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Optimization and validation of the method was performed for determining the minor and trace element concentrations of Co, I, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe in roots, petiole and leaves of the plant. NIST Standard reference material SRM 1547 (Peach leaves) was used for establishing accuracy of the analytical method. Rhodium was used an internal standard for correcting matrix effects.Results and Discussion : A validated ICP-OES and ICP-MS method was established for determining the minor and trace element concentrations of Co, I, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe in roots, petiole and leaves of the plant. Levels of all elements were found to be higher in roots, followed by petiole and leaves. Except for Zn and Fe, where concentration in leaves was found to be higher than in petiole. Of all the measured elements, total concentration of Mn was found to be highest (566 mg kg-1), followed by Fe (341 mg kg-1), Zn (40.26 mg kg-1), Cu (28.04 mg kg-1), Ni (9.54 mg kg-1), Co (4.33 mg kg-1) and I (0.94 mg kg-1). A surprising finding was the presence of iodine in the plant, despite its non-marine source.Conclusion : Plant-derived products form an important category in alternative medicine that is often used for treatment of several disorders. Eicchornia crassipes (water hyacinth), considered as the world’s worst weed, has been used in folk medicine, with very little evidence-based data to support its potential medicinal value. Here we report the trace element profile of Eicchornia crassipes. Insight into the trace element profile of various parts of the plant can perhaps be harnessed to postulate the rationale behind the use of specific parts of the weed in traditional medicine.