Assessment of Elements in Curcuma caesia Rhizome through Various Instrumentation Techniques

Curcuma caesia Roxb. is a zingiberaceae plant and their rhizomes have been used for various medicinal properties based on the presence of alkaloid, glycosides, essential oils and vitamin. But, the studies on medicinal properties of rhizomes of the plant in inorganic component are very limited. The trace elements and certain elements present in medicinal plants are important for safety of herbal drugs and also to help in establishing the structure in phytochemistry and chelating therapy. The present study emphasises to investigate the presence of nutrient and trace elements in the rhizome of the plant quantitatively, as deficiency or excessiveness leads to various health issues.

Curcuma caesia rhizomes were collected from Thoubal District, Manipur, North-East India during the month of November-December, 2017. Rhizomes powder was investigated for the determination of various elements by instrumental techniques like, Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Carbon - Hydrogen - Nitrogen - Sulphur (CHNS).

After comparison of the various results given by FAAS, ICP-MS, SEM, EDX and CHNS Techniques, 17 elements consisting of both major and minor elements viz. C (7.705 wt.%), H (1.22wt.%), N (4.41 wt.%), O (36.97 at. %), Na (5.5 μg/mL), K (15.8 μg/mL), Mg (1.3 μg/mL), Fe (0.53 μg/mL), Ca (0.46 μg/mL), Co (<2 ng/mL), V (<2 ng/mL), Cr (6 ng/mL), Ni (30 ng/mL), As (<5 ng/mL), Mn (82 ng/mL), Cu (42 ng/mL) and Pb (10 ng/mL) have been determined in Curcuma caesia rhizome (μg/mL means micro gram per millilitre while ng/mL means nano gram per millilitre). A comprehensive elemental analysis data Curcuma caesia rhizome of such kind is not yet reposted earlier. The study will be very helpful in further study of the medicinal values of the rhizome.