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Rhamnus Prinoides (Gesho) ISSN: 2226-7522(Print) and 2305-3327 (Online) Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal Oct-Dec 2013, 2(4): 20-26 www.starjournal.org Copyright@2013 STAR Journal. All Rights Reserved Original Research Determination of Selected Essential and Non-essential Metals in the Stems and Leaves of Rhamnus prinoides (Gesho) Ararso Nagari * and Alemayehu Abebaw Department of Chemistry, Ambo University, PO Box: 19, Ambo, Ethiopia Abstract Article Information This study was carried out with the objective of determining the quantity of selected essential Article History: and nonessential metals; K, Na, Mg, Ca, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd, Fe and Zn in the leaf and stem of Received : 15-09-2013 Rhamnus prinoides. Samples were collected from the low-altitude (1500‒1670 meters above Revised : 24-12-2013 sea level) and medium-altitude (1670‒2000 meters above sea level) areas of Bako Tibe. Wet Accepted : 26-12-2013 acid-digestion using a mixture of HNO3, HClO4 and H2O2 for leaf (2.5, 1, 0.5 mL) and for stem Keywords: (2.5, 1.5, 1 mL) was used. K and Na were analysed using flame photometry, Ca and Mg were determined titrimetrically and the other metals with flame atomic absorption spectrometry Essential metals (FAAS) after appropriate quality control measures were undertaken to verify and maintain the Non-essential metals quality of the data generated. The results of the study showed that the average concentrations Rhamnus prinoides’ -1 Stem and leaf determined were ranged from 8855.543 (stem) to 12927.3 (leaf) mg kg for K, 226.214 (leaf) to FAAS 308.657 (stem) mg kg-1 for Na, 6144 (stem) to 11120 (leaf) mg kg-1 for Ca, 352.34 (leaf) to -1 -1 Flame Photometry 1526.809 (stem) mg kg for Mg, 29.0995 (leaf) to 49.913 (stem) mg kg for Cu, 3.357 (stem) to Bako Tibe 13.107 (stem) mg kg-1 for Mn, 1.714 (leaf) to 2.374 (stem) mg kg-1 for Cr, 8.58 (leaf) to 10.73 *Corresponding Author: (stem) mg kg-1 for Fe, 3.483 (leaf) to 18.36 (stem) mg kg-1for Zn and below method detection limit for Cd. The concentrations of the metals were also compared with recommended Ararso Nagari maximum permissible limits and some international reports; and found to be in a good agreement indicating no exposure risk of using the leaves and stems of Rhamnus prinoides E-mail: under the current situation. [email protected] INTRODUCTION Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit, common name dogwood, cash crop; leaves/twigs or stems are used by most of Amharic name Gesho, family Rhamnaceae, is a wide individuals in the country. spread plant species in East, Central and South African countries. It is a native plant to Ethiopia, Botswana, The Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit is also used as Eritrea, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, traditional medicine. In some African countries its leaf is Uganda and exotic to Kenya. It also occurs in Cameroon, used for the treatment of the diseases/disorders like Sudan and Angola. The African dogwood, R. prinoides stomach complications, joint pain, fever, diarrhea, (Rhamnaceae) is a dense shrub or a tree that grows up to common cold, malaria, body weakness, appetizer and 6 m high (Berhanu and Teshome, 1995; Hailemichael et pneumonia, sprains, gonorrhea, colic, rheumatism and al., 2007; Afewerk and Chandravanshi, 2012). ringworm infections (Berhanu and Teshome, 1995; Hailemichael et al., 2007). Specifically, in Southern Africa, The Gesho plant (R. prinoides), which is different from the chief use of the tree is for magic; it is widely used as a hop (Humulus lupulus) is widely cultivated in Ethiopia and protective charm toward off lightning and evil influences is available dried in the local market (Haimanot, 2011); the from homes and crops (Berhanu and Teshome, 1995; leaves and stems of this plant are used to impart the Hailemichael et al., 2007). characteristic bitter flavour to domestically brewed beverages known as Tella and Tej and it is estimated that It is also known that the source of mineral nutrients for well over 5 million people consume these beverages daily human being is mostly plant materials consumed in the (Berhanu and Teshome, 1995). The leaves and steams of form of drinks, food or medicine. So, since R. prinoides is Gesho are indispensable ingredients in the making of one of the main constitutes of traditional drinks and also these traditional fermented beverages. It has been used as traditional medicines (serve to cure different reported that the plant regulates the microflora diseases for human being and domestic animals), the responsible for the fermentation process. It plays a major knowledge of their mineral content is very useful. Thus, it role to suppress certain bacteria during the fermentation is very important to assess the essential, non-essential process (Hailemichael et al., 2007). It is also a valuable and toxic mineral nutrients that can be accumulated in the An Official International Journal of Wollega University, Ethiopia. 20 Ararso Nagari and Alemayehu Abebaw Sci. Technol. Arts Res. J., Oct-Dec 2013, 2(4): 20-26 stated plant species so as to address the individual daily Spiking Metal Standard Mixture Solution intake of mineral nutrients. A standard mixture solution containing all the metals of interest at varying concentrations (K and Na = 80, Mn = The objectives of the study were to: (i) optimize 40, Cu and Cr = 50, Fe and Zn = 60, Cd = 10 μg mL-1) digestion procedure for the stem and leaf of Gesho was prepared by taking 4, 2, 2.5, 3 and 0.5 mL stock samples to determine mineral contents by flame standard solutions (1000 μg mL-1) respectively in to 50 mL photometry and FAAS, (ii) determine the amounts of volumetric flask and filling with distilled water (boiled for essential and non-essential metals in stem and leaf of the 30 minute) to the mark. plant, (iii) compare the amounts of essential and non- essential metals in stem and leaf of the plant within the Sample Collection, Transportation and Pretreatment lowland and medium altitude, as well as between the The purposive sampling technique was used. The 2 kg lowland and medium altitude, and (iv) compare the each gross samples (a composite sample) of the leaves amounts of essential and non-essential metals in stem and stems of R. prinoides were collected from the sites of and leaf of the plant with the literature values. For which the low-altitude (1500‒1670 meters above sea level) and the samples of the leaves and stems of Rhamnus medium-altitude (1670‒2000 meters above sea level) of prinoides were collected from the sites of lowland and areas Bako Tibe district, latitude of 9°N and longitude of medium altitude of Bako Tibe district of West Showa 37.166667°E in January, 2013 G.C. zone. From the gross samples, sub-samples of 500 g each MATERIALS AND METHODS from each sample sites were placed in the labeled Apparatus and Glassware polyethylene plastic bags and brought to Ambo University A stainless steel cutter, drying oven (DHG-9070A), chemistry laboratory for further pretreatment and analysis. mortar and pestle, 0.5 mm stainless steel sieve, electronic The samples were further powdered by making use of analytical balance with 0.0001 sensitivity (AA-200DS, mortar and pestle and sieved with 0.5 mm sieve. Finally, Deriver Instrument Company) micropipette (0‒50 μL), 0.5 g aliquot was taken from each sample for digestion borosilicate beakers (100, 250 mL), hot plate (Glory dial 1- and analysis. 5), volumetric flasks (50, 100 and 1000 mL), Whatman filter paper (No. 42), funnels, capped glass bottles (50 Determination of Moisture Correction Factor of Stem mL), flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (SL194, and Leaf Samples Double beam AAS, Elico) and flame photometer (CL 378, To determine the moisture content of stem and leaf Elico) were used. samples of R. prinoides collected from the two sampling areas, the samples were first grounded, sieved through a Chemicals and Reagents 0.5 mm stainless sieve and air dried to constant weight for ® two weeks. Then, the samples were weighed with HNO3 (65‒68%, Uni-Chem Chemical reagents, India), ® analytical electronic balance to record the initial weight. HClO4 (70‒72%, Uni-Chem Chemical reagents, India), extra pure hydrogen peroxide H O (30%, Uni-Chem® The samples were re-weighed and re-dried until they give 2 2 constant mass after oven drying at 80 oC for two days (24 Chemical reagents), aqua-regia (1:3, HNO3: HCl), HCl (35‒38%, LR, s.d.fine-cHEM LimTEd, MUMBAI) and hrs) and the moisture contents were determined from the sucrose, C H O (HIMEDIA®, A.R.), stock standard differences and the corresponding moisture correction 12 22 11 factor (mcf) for analytical results or the multiplication solutions (1000 ppm) prepared in 20 mL 1:1HNO3 for Cu metal diluted to 1 L, 17 mL 1:1 HCl for Zn and Fe diluted factor for the amount of sample to be weighed for analysis to 1 L and distilled water (boiled for 30 minutes) were was calculated (Haimanot, 2011). used. Optimization of Digestion Procedure for Leaf and Stock and Working Intermediate Metal Standard Stem Samples of Rhamnus prinoides Preparation To prepare a clear colorless leaf and stem sample The stock standard solutions of each of the metals of solutions that were suitable for the analysis using FAAS interest were prepared at the concentrations of 1000 mg and flame photometry; the digestion procedures were mL-1. The working intermediate metal standard solutions optimized using different proportions of HNO3, HClO4 and (100 μg mL-1 each) were prepared by diluting 10 mL of H2O2 mixtures by varying the digestion time and 1000 μg mL-1 individual metal stock standard solutions temperature.
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