Elemental analysis of medicinal plants used as drugs in unani system of medicine

Modern medicine starts the study of human body from the level of cell and tissues while unani medicine starts its study from the very lowest level of organization and that is an element. leaves seeds and roots of some selected medicinal plants collected from the lora,abbottabad were analyzed for elemental concentration such as al,ca,cr,fe,k,mg,mn,mo,na and zn using atomic absorption spectrometer. among the leaves it was observed that calcium was maximum (98.2 ppm) in justacia adhatoda and minimum (0.396 ppm) in oxalis corniculata followed by k which was greater (59.06 ppm) in mentha viridis and lower (0.127 pm) in zanthoxylum armatum. among the seeds the results showed that calcium was maximum (301.4 ppm) in punica granatum and minimum (0.5 ppm) in avena sativa followed by k and it was greater (60.64 ppm) in p. granatum and lower (1.082 ppm) in pinus roxburghii. other elements like al,ca,cr,fe,k,mn,na and zn contents were higher in berberis lycium roots than taraxicum officinale roots. the present investigation revealed that various plant parts of medicinal plants of lora,abbottabad are rich source of important minerals and calcium contents will help the local people in hypertension,osteoporosis and in bones strength. potassium contents in leaves may be effective in blood pressure and in constipation. © 2017,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.