Determination of Heavy Metals from Bauhinia variegata Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Technique

Many mineral elements occur in animal and plant tissues in very minute quantities, which earlier were unable to be measured precisely by analytical methods then available. Modern analytical technique like inductively coupled plasma has the ability to measure almost all the trace elements in smallest of biological samples with great precision and accuracy. There is also a need for heavy metal analysis to be an integral part of the standardization of herbal medicine. Bauhinia variegata has been used against various ailments of which leucoderma, leprosy and asthma are few to name. Five common heavy metals As, Cr, Mg ,Pb and Zn were analysed by inductively coupled plasma in whole plant powder of Bauhinia variegata, and magnesium was found to have the highest concentration.