Determination of Metal Content in “Valerian” Roots Phytopharmaceuticals Derivatives by Atomic Spectrometry

ARCE, SILVIA; CERUTTI, SOLEDAD; OLSINA, ROBERTO; GOMEZ, MARÍA ROXANA; MARTINEZ, LUIS DANTE

JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL

Año: 2005 p. 221 - 225

1060-3271

Phytopharmaceuticals containing “Valerian” are used as mild sleep-inducing agents. Elemental composition of three different marks of Valeriana officinalis roots commercially available in the Argentinian market, their teas and a commercial tincture have been studied. The content of Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn was determined in phytopharmaceuticals, by Flame Atomic Emission / Absorption Spectrometry (FAES / FAAS), Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS) and Ultrasonic Nebulization System coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (USN-ICP OES). Prior to the analyses of the samples, a digestion procedure was optimized. The analytical results obtained for Fe, Al, Ca and V in the solid sample study were within the range 1000-100 mg kg-1, while for Mn, Zn and Mn were within the range: 100-10 mg kg-1. Cadmium was found at levels up to 0.0125 mg kg-1.