Analysis of mineral nutrients status of whole plant and growth substratum of Phyllanthus niruri L., an anti-plasmodial herb using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

The mineral status of whole plant samples of Phyllanthus and its growth substratum was determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. A total of 11 elements were detected in both whole plant and soil samples with varying concentrations depending on area of collection as well plant or it soil substratum. Comparatively, the concentration of all the elements except Cl, Ca and Br was higher in the soil samples than the whole plant indicating that the plant obtained these elements from the growth substratum. For the plant samples, the concentration of tungsten (W) and arsenic (As) were below the detection limits while for the soil sample chlorine (Cl) and calcium (Ca) were below detection limits. Three of the elements namely Mg, Ca and K detected in the plant samples are macroelements and were therefore detected in higher concentrations in the plant samples. The element with the highest concentration was K and it ranged from 1,215.44 to 5,658.06 and 0.64 to 1.20 % in soil and whole plant samples respectively. Arsenic (As) is considered as a toxic element and its concentration below detection limits in the whole plant sample makes it pharmacologically safe for human consumption. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.