Microwave assisted determination of minerals and toxic metals in traditionally used medicinal plant Zingiber officinale Roscoe by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer

Manuscript History: Seventeen minerals (Ba, Be, Bi, B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Ag, Sr and Zn) and four toxic metals (As, Cd, Pb and Hg) were determined first time in the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. The rhizomes were irradiated with microwave in a Microwave Reaction System with nitric acid and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer. The mean concentration (mg/100g±SE) of minerals in the rhizome of Z. officinale were Ba 3.83±0.02, Be ND, Bi ND, B 0.47±0.24, Ca 39.70±0.57, Co 0.01±0.003, Cr 1.14±0.03, Cu 0.56±0.08, Fe 18.63±0.02, Mg 286.78±10.17, Mn 5.06±0.04, Mo 0.08±0.002, Ni 0.55±0.02, Se ND, Ag ND, Sr 2.11±0.21 and Zn 1.47±0.21 and toxic metals were As ND, Cd 0.01±0.003, Pb 0.20±0.16 and Hg ND. Results obtained revealed that Z. officinale rhizome has higher concentration of magnesium, calcium and iron with traces of other elements. Moreover, cadmium and lead were also present. On the basis of data obtained it can be concluded that Z. officinale rhizome has worthy nutritive elemental profile and can be a source of balanced elemental requisite of diet albeit it should be tested for toxic metals load before processing it further for medication.