ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF VITEX ALTISSIMA LINN. LEAVES BY HHXRF AND SEM-EDX AND ITS ANTIOXIDANT STUDIES

Daisy Joseph*

ABSTRACT

Elemental analysis of V. altissima (L) leaf was carried out by using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and SEM-EDX. Nutritional values of V.altissima were evaluated according to the antioxidant properties of different extracts of leaves. Fifteen of the detected elements were found essential, which includes some heavy elements also(Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Nb, Mo, Cd, Th and U). Certain elements (Mg, S, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Se, Rb, Y, Zr, Ag, Sn, Sb, Ba, W, Hg, Pb and Bi) were found to be below the detection limit with the help of Hand held X-ray Fluorescence (HHXRF) analysis. From SEM-EDX results, certain non-transition elements such as C, O, Si, S, K, Ca and Br were found to be present in the dried leaf powder of V. altissima. The distribution of elements was found to be in the order : crude leaf powder > Hexane > Chloroform > Ethyl acetate > Butanol. Thus it is clear that V. altissima contain many essential elements which are all required minerals for human.

Keywords: Vitex altissima, Elemental analysis, Antioxidant studies.