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TRACE ELEMENTS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEDICINAL EFFECTS OF SAUSSUREA LANICEPS , SAUSSUREA INVOLUCRATE , LYCIUM BARBARUM AND LYCIUM RUTHENICUM
Wang, Hui; Wang, Shengyi; Cui, Dongan; Li, Xia; Tuo, Xin & Liu, Yongming
Abstract
Background: The pharmacodynamics of Saussurea laniceps, Saussurea involucrata, Lycium barbarum and Lycium
ruthenicum have been researched, and trace elements have been considered as the essential elements, but little attention
has been paid to the trace elements of the herbal medicine. We would like to report on the content of copper (Cu),
manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) levels in the four herbal medicines.
Materials and Methods: A total of 20 whole plant materials were collected of each species in China. The content of
Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn in the dried aerial parts was estimated by the standard atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The
level of Se was detected using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry.
Results: The mean concentrations of Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn and Se in S. laniceps were 7.758±0.924μg/g, 201.3±16.24μg/g,
222.7±35.10μg/g, 18.48±2.913μg/g and 1.42±0.16μg/g, respectively; S. involucrata were 19.56±2.20μg/g,
88.75±8.53μg/g, 812.7±126.9μg/g, 34.85±3.81μg/g and 1.04±0.05μg/g, respectively; L. barbarum were
10.83±0.26μg/g, 9.598±0.32μg/g, 55.65±3.83μg/g, 11.92±0.27μg/g and 11.84±0.59μg/kg, respectively; L. ruthenicum
were 12.67±0.39μg/g, 13.78±1.13μg/g, 98.04±5.03μg/g, 14.46±1.27μg/g and 35.12±2.34μg/kg, respectively.
Conclusion: This study provided the trace elements content of Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn and Se in the four herbal medicines. The
trace elements are maybe other functional compounds for medicinal effects. Deep relationship between
pharmacological and trace elements contents, especially its mechanism of action should be future research.
Keywords
Saussurea laniceps; Saussurea involucrata; Lycium barbarum; Lycium ruthenicum; trace elements content; traditional Chinese Medicine
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