Abstract

HEAVY METAL AND TRACE ELEMENT CONTENT IN STEREOSPERMUM COLAIS BARK

S. Prema, K. Chitra, V. Gopal

Abstract

Heavy metal (Hg, Ar, Cr, Cd, Pb) and trace element (K, Se, Zn) composition of stem bark of Stereospermum colais was evaluated with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Estimation of heavy metals was performed using hydride generation technique (cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) and in which carrier gas was nitrogen. The results obtained revealed the presence of trace elements and heavy metal was within the limit showing the safe use of the bark of Stereospermum colais as herbal drug for various treatments like cancer, arthritis etc.

Keywords: Stereospermum colais, cancer, arthritis.