INTRODUCTION:

The traditional knowledge of plants is often most impressive and have been used by many workers by using different method of plant healing (Frawley 1986; 1997). Since the period of Nagarjuna a new history was created in the field of Indian system of medicine because of the use of metallic preparations as a major part of treatment (Seiler et.al., 1994).Many useful methods have been developed to have quality control over plant ash material used in medicines etc. (Paech et.al., 1956). The minerals in our body are another group of essential nutrients, needed to both regulate body processes and give our body structure.Like vitamins, minerals help regulate numerous processes that continually take place in our body, so they are essential to our life (Braetter et.al., 1987).

Plant Abutilon indicum Linn. belong to family Malvaceae. It is known as kanghi in hindi, atibala in sanskrit. Abutilon indicum Linn. is widely used in preparation of various ayurvedic formulations. It is a tomentose annual or perennial herb or shrub and is found in abundance in sub Himalayan region upto 1200 m, and as a common weed on road side. The plant also found in other neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, etc (Kirtikar et.al., 1933, AYUSH 2004). The plant is used in the neurological disorders, epistaxis and heart diseases (Yoganarasimhan et.al., 1979; Govindiah 1983; Srivastava et.al., 1986), as astringent, diuretic demulcent (Srivastava et.al., 1986), in rheumatisn (Singh et.al.,1992; John 1984), and post delivery complaints in cattle (Reddy; 1988), stem and bark of the plant is used as febrifuge, anthelmintic alexiteric, diuretic (Singh et.al.,1989; Bhatnagar et.al., 1973; Yoganarasimhan et.al., 1979), and in renal colic (Das, 1995). Flowers are antipyretic, useful in impotency of fertility enhancer in piles and gonorrhoea (Kirtikar et.al.,1933). The seeds are used as aphrodisiac (Pakrashi et.al., 1999; 1970), fever (Kaushik et.al., 2000), cough (Hooker, 1961), bronchitis, piles, gonorrhoea (1986; 1984),. Leaves are used in toothache (1981; Yoganarasimhan et.al., 1979), as demulcent (Govindiah, 1983, Srivastava et.al., 1986), in gonorrhoea (Singh et.al., 1992; John, 1984), inflammation and wounds (Reddy, 1988), for stomachache diabetes, diarrhoea, hydrococle(Das, 1995), Jaundice (Kakrani et.al., 1994), boil (Chandra et.al., 1989), piles (Badhe et.al., 1990; Pandit et.al., 1996; Sebastian et.al., 1984), headache (Jain et.al., 1984; Rajwar, 1983), as a tonic in rheumatism (Tripathi et.al., 1996), and as an antipyretic agent (Mishra et.al. 1995; Das, 1995),. Roots of plant are antipyretic (Sudhakar et.al., 1998; Sahu , 1981; Siddiqui et.al., 1993; Basak, 1997; Dagar, 1991; Upadhye, 1994), and used in uterine haemorrhagic discharge (Girach et.al., 1998), leprosy (Saxena et.al., 1981; Hemadri, 1980; Kumar, 1980), leucorrhoea and menorrhagia (Nistheswar, 1992), toothache (Atal et.al., 1978), as on antiepileptic (Sharma et.al.,1989), and in cuts and wounds (Sharma et.al., 1989),.

There seems no literature about elemental analysis and little work found on physico-chemical analysis and mineral nutrient value. The objective of present study is to carryout elemental analysis and physico-chemical parameters of Abutilon indicum Linn. of all parts. Plant used as herbal medicine in Indian system of medicine since ancient period

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Plant Material:

Plant Abutilon indicum was procured from Meerut, U.P., India in July 2003 and identified by Dr. Navneet Gurukula Kangri University. A voucher specimen (GKBM 1344) is deposited at the herbarium of Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukula Kangri University, India. The collected plants were air dried and kept at room temperature until analysis. The dried plant material were ground and sieve to obtained homogenous powder for ash preparation.

Preparation of ash solution:

The sulphated ash obtained after complete ignition was dissolved in 100 ml 5% HCl solution. The ash solution of leaves, stem, root, seed and flower were prepared. These solutions were stored in tightly capped glass flasks directly used for the determination of various mineral elements i.e. sodium, Potassium, calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, cobalt, Nickel, Manganese by using A.A.S. and I.C.P. techniques as reported in literature (Sondi et.al., 1984),. The model of instruments were (AAS-Varion-880) and (ICP-AES-JOBIN YUON JY-70 plus), for determination of elements at the Wadia, Institute of Himalyan Geology, Dehradun, U.A., India.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Results of the different parameters of ash have been summarized as under in the following tables. The elemental analysis was given in Table -1. Ash properties are summarized in Table-2.

The medicinal plant used in present study is Abutilon indicum Linn., have been analyzed with different parts leaves, stem, roots, seeds and flowers. The nine elements Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni have been determined. Elemental composition of each sample was shown in above Table – 1.

The roots of plants have rich concentration of Na. The leaves of Abutilon indicum contain high concentration of Ca, Fe and Co in comparison to other parts of the plant. While Mg found chiefly in stem. Cu, Mn and Ni are rich in seeds of plant. Flowers of plant are best source of K. Moreover the high level of Na found in Root of Abutilon indicum (2820 ppm). Flowers are rich in K (14088 ppm). The leaves contain (117241 ppm) Ca, (3100 ppm) Fe and (38 ppm) of Co. Stem is the chief source of Mg (74091) while seeds of plant are rich in Cu (234 ppm), Mn (336 ppm) and Ni (66 ppm). The presence of wide range of minerals necessary for vitality of body is present in sufficient percentage. Physico-chemical properties of Abutilon indicum Linn. parts leaves, stem, root, seed and flower have been shown in table-2. The physical state of all parts was in powdered form. The ash colour of leaves and seeds was grayish, while stem, root and flower white. Taste of ash was pungent of all parts. The ash prepared from leaves is highly soluble in acid and water while ash of seeds was more soluble in acid. Ash is more soluble in acid as compared to water and ethyl alcohol in all parts of the plant. The pH was in the range of 8.70 - 9.75 of basic nature, leaves 8.70, stem 9.75, root 9.70, seed 9.3 and flower 9.20. The percentage of moisture content was 4.6-8.6 in different parts of the plant, leaves 6.4, stem 5.8, root 5.2, seed 4.6 and flower 8.6. The ash content found 8.2% in leaves, 4.4% in stem, root and seeds 5% and flower 8.1%.

Ash analysis has given very satisfactory results from the point of view of its use. Amount of potassium is highest among all the mineral elements. Potassium is of value as a diuretic. In fact Na and K take part in ionic balance of human body, maintain tissue excitability, and because of the solubility of salts, the sodium plays an important role in the transport of metabolites. Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium deficiency cause the diarrhea, vomiting, aidaey diseases and low serum, fatigue, muscle weakness nausea and decreased reflexes tetany. Calcium deficiency contribute to poor bone and tooth development in children and osteoporosis and tetany in adults when iron in deficiency also produces a hypochromic, nicroytie anemia and depigmentation of the skin and hairs. Whereas Ca constitutes a large proportion of bone, in human blood and extracellular fluid it is necessary for the normal functioning of cardio muscle, the phenomenon of blood coagulation and milk clotting, and the regulation of cell permeability.

TABLE 1. Elemental analysis of A. indicum ash by A.A.S. and I.C.P.

S.N.	Na	K	Ca	Mg	Fe	Cu	Co	Mn	Ni
Leaves	486	11854	117241	55862	3190	109	38	326	52
Stems	631	3782	85227	74091	2400	133	47	159	61
Roots	2820	3936	41148	18899	2050	86	27	84	36
Flowers	390	14088	103898	44746	1990	90	35	325	52
Seeds	567	6788	33000	70400	1696	234	30	336	66

Elements quantity measured in p.p.m.

TABLE –2 Physico-chemical properties of the A. indicum

SN.	Parameter	Leaves		Stem		Root		Seed		Flower
1.	Physical State	Powdered		Powdered		Powdered		Powdered		Powdered
2.	Colour	Grayish		white		White		Grayish		White
3.	Taste	Pungent		Pungent		Pungent		Pungent		Pungent
4.	Ash Content % (in 5 gm)	8.2		4.4		5.0		5.0		8.1
5.	Ash Value Water ash Alcohol ash Acid ash	*S 56 42 73	^•IS 44 58 27	*S 55 36 79	^•IS 45 64 21	*S 32 38 58	^•IS 68 62 42	*S 52 36 56	^•IS 48 64 44	*S 46 42 71	^•IS 54 58 29
6.	Ph	8.70		9.75		9.70		9.30		9.20
7.	Moisture content at 110^oC	6.4		5.8		5.2		4.6		8.6

Average of three replicate; *S = Soluble Ash, ^•IS = Insoluble Ash

It also plays an important part in nerve-impulse transmission and in the mechanism of neuromuscular system. The observation of anemia in Cu deficiency may probably be related to its role in facilitating iron absorption and in the incorporation of iron into haemoglobin (Polkowska-Motrenko et.al., 2000). Magnesium is also present in good amount. In human, Mg is required in the plasma and extracellular fluid where it helps to maintain osmotic equilibrium. It is required in many enzyme catalyzed reactions, especially those in which nucleotides participate where the reactive species is the magnesium salt, eg., MgATP^2-. Lack of Mg is associated with abnormal irritability of muscle and convulsions and excess of it is associated with depression of central nervous system. Cobalt deficiency normally not produced in the body but constituent of vitamin B₁₂required for the body. Manganese deficiency in the body causes impaired growth skeletal abnormality in central nervous system (CNS) malfunction. Nickel is not more required in the body it is required for the iron metabolism and to activate certain enzymes.

As far as the ash materials are concerned, the amount and composition of ash remaining after combustion of plant material varies considerably according to the part of the plant, age, culture treatment etc. In young leaf the ash may constitute about 5% while in mature leaf it may be about 15%. The ash was value (World Health Organization, 1998), given on the basis of soluble and insoluble material. Percentage of acid insoluble ash, water soluble ash, matter insoluble in alcohol and matter insoluble in water indicate a satisfactory range for their medicinal use. The ash analysis of plant parts could not done before as seen by literature survey. The earlier mentioned that evaluation of drugs basically needs its identification and microscopic parameters. The ash analysis parameters are helpful for drugs identification and standardization.

Conclusion:

In the present study of plant analysis we have provide some information to explain the basis of ethanomedical uses of Abutilon indicum Linn., for the treatment and prevention of diseases. The presence of mineral nutrients in this plant can add to it is therapeutic and dietary value. Last but not least, this piece of research work emphasis the mineral potential of Abutilon indicum Linn. to be employed in new therapeutic drugs and provide the basis for future research on the minerals of traditional medicinal plants.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Thanks are to Dr. M.S. Rathi (scientist), WADIA Institute of Himalyan Geology, Dehradun, India. He had provided the facilities for analysis of plant ash samples by A.A.S. & I.C.P. for different elements for part of this work acknowledged.

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Received on 30.04.2011 Modified on 11.05.2011

Asian J. Research Chem. 4(8): August, 2011; Page 1245-1248

*Corresponding Author E-mail: aamitt80@rediffmail.com

Results of the different parameters of ash have been summarized as under in the following tables. The elemental analysis was given in Table -1. Ash properties are summarized in Table-2.

TABLE 1. Elemental analysis of A. indicum ash by A.A.S. and I.C.P.

TABLE –2 Physico-chemical properties of the A. indicum