Determination of lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc in traditional medicines by atomic spectrophotometry(Thai)

Abstract

This study were conducted to show lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc levels in Thai traditional drugs using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The appropriate wavelengths for determination of lead arsenic cadmium copper and zinc level were 283.3, 193.7, 228.7, 324.7 and 213.9 nm, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the linear calibration graph was obtained over the range 0.1 - 5.0 µg ml-1 of each heavy metal. The 63 of Thai traditional drug samples were collected within Amphur Muang, Khon Kaen Province. The optimum weight or volume was 3.0 g or 20.00 ml for these heavy metals determination. Thirty percent v/v of concentrate nitric acid was used to digest the samples and they were heated for 3 hours on a hot plate. The average levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc of the Thai traditional drugs were 0.11 - 11.90, 0.01 - 0.23, 0.01 - 3.05, 0.01 - 54.12 and 0.02 - 99.37 µg g-1, respectively.