The concentrations of zinc, magnesium and iron in some selected medicinal plants used by the Chuka community in Kenya

Abstract

Medicinal plants are essential components of primary health care, especially for rural communities in developing countries. The medicinal plants contain mineral elements that are beneficial therapeutically. In this study, concentration levels of Zn, Mg and Fe in Tagetes minuta, Senna didymobotrya, Bidens pilosa, Caesalpinia volkensii, Iboza riparia and Commiphora zimermanii were analysed using Flame absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine the levels of Mg, Fe and Zn. Mean levels of Mg in the medicinal plants ranged from 6.00-164.00 mg/Kg. A. secundiflora (leaves) had the highest mean levels of Mg (163.00±1.00n mg/Kg) while S. incanum (roots) showed the lowest mean levels (6.33±0.29a mg/Kg). Levels of iron ranged from 1.45-9.54 mg/Kg. Leaves and stems combined of T. minuta had the highest level of Fe (9.43±0.110 mg/Kg) while leaves of C. volkensii had the lowest levels of Fe (1.47±0.02b mg/Kg). The mean levels of Zn ranged from0.67-4.29 mg/Kg. A. secundiflora (leaves) had the highest mean levels of Zn (4.24±0.06n mg/Kg) while stem bark of C. zimermanii had the lowest levels (0.67±0.00d mg/Kg). Concentration levels of minerals in these medicinal plants may be responsible for their medicinal properties.