Activation analysis of some essential elements in five medicinal plants used in Ghana

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been applied to multielement determination of five medicinal plants which are used to cure various diseases in Ghana. These are: Sirappac powder-E, Tina-A powder, Aphrodisiac powder, Blighia powder and Olax powder. Concentrations of fifteen elements Al, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, K, Mn, Mg, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Ta, V and Zn have ben determined by short, medium, and long irradiation times with a thermal neutron flux of 5 x 1011 n x cm-2 x s-1. Of these Co, Sb, and Sc are found to be present at trace level, Br, Mn, Rb, Ta, V and Zn at the minor level and Al, Ca, Cl, K, Mg, and Na are generally at the major level. Standard Reference Material NIST SRM-1571 (Orchard Leaf) was analysed simultaneously with the samples. The precision and accuracy of the method was evaluated using real samples and the standard reference material. It was found out that elemental concentrations measured in the NIST SRM-1571 are within ±10% of the reported values. (author)