[Analysis of macroelements and microelements in Chinese traditional medicine Plumbago zeylanica Linn by ICP-AES].

Twenty macroelements and microelements were analyzed in the leaves, stems and roots of Plumbago zeylanica Linn from Guangxi by inductively.coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Four macroelements, Na, K, Ca and Mg, five essential microelements, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr and Co, and eight other elements, Mo, Sb, Bi, Cd, Sr, Pb, Cd and As, were detected in all samples. The contents of the elements are varied in different parts of P. zeylanica. For all the determined elements, the contents in the leaves and roots are relatively higher as compared to those in the stems and it is in concurrence with the active parts of Plumbago zeylanica for the cure of antioxidant and anticancer drugs, as the elements Na, K, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr, Cu and Co are the highest in leaves, followed by those is in roots. Many anticancer herbs usually show comparatively rich Zn, Mn, Fe, as well as Cr,Sr and Cu. Plumbago zeylanica exists with abundant Zn, Mn and Fe and a certain amount of Cr, Sr and Cu. The results would provide useful data for discussing the relationship between the elements in Chinese traditional medicine and its activities, and could be useful for the exploitation of the Chinese traditional medicinal resources.