Trace elemental determination of teas used for shaman from Amazon area by neutron activation analysis

NASCIMIENTO JÄHNKE, SAMARA; SOLDATI, ANALIA L.; SOUND, IRIS; VICENTE VILAS, VÍCTOR; BAUMANN, WOLFRAM

Río de Janeiro, Brasil

Conferencia; Nuclear Analytical Methods in Life Sciences (NAMLS08); 2005

Medicinal plants, and galenic forms (decocts or extracts) obtained from these natural drugs, have been used for many centuries in popular medicine, and are effectively applied even nowadays by ill people, who try to cure themselves. Medicinal plants contain considerable amounts of mineral constituents. In particular, the presence of essential elements (incl. Mg, Mn, Zn, and many others) is a prerequisite for correct growth and development of a plant. This study is focused on the medicinal part of the plant extracted with hot water (tea). Four species common in Brazil have been selected: Jambü (Spilanthes oleracea) - Asteraceae; Beldroega (Portu/aca oleracea) - Portulacaceae; Alfavaca (Ocimum gratissimum) - Labiatae, Xicoria-de-peixe {Eryngium foetidum) - Apiaceae. The extracts of these plants were analysed by INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis) and HPCL-ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry). Further determination of metal species will be done by ESI-MS (Electro spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry)