Determination of Some Major and Trace Elements in Cladodes of Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Elemental Profiling of Common Anti-diabetic Medicinal Plants of Swat and Peshawar Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province of Pakistan: An Investigation Using PIXE and ICP-OES

The use of medicinal plants is integral to addressing liver, heart, lung, and other metabolic issues. These plants are rich in vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which collectively help in lowering intestinal glucose absorption and increasing insulin secretion by pancreatic tissues. Elemental analysis, encompassing major, minor, and trace elements, was performed on various parts (leaves, roots, and seeds) of 16 anti-diabetic medicinal plants collected from different regions of Swat and Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. This analysis utilized proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) techniques. Our PIXE and ICP-OES analysis revealed the presence of major (Ca, K, S, P), minor (Si, Cl), and trace (Al, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cr, and Sc) elements in various parts (leaves, roots, and seeds) of the 16 anti-diabetic medicinal plants studied. Specifically, elements such as Ca, K, Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se were detected, all of which are known to contribute in maintaining normal glucose metabolism. Notably, Zn and Se are crucial trace elements for the synthesis, secretion, and action of insulin. Significant Zn concentrations were observed in ten anti-diabetic medicinal plants: Albizia lebbeck (AL), Atropa acuminata (AA), Avena fatua (AF), Citrus medica (CM), Commiphora wightii (CW), Cymbopogon citratus (CC), Daucus carota (DC), Ziziphus mauritiana (FM), Hyoscyamus niger (HN), and Martynia annua (MA), and significant Se concentrations were observed in twelve medicinal plants, i.e., Albizia lebbeck (AL), Allium sativum (AS), Atropa acuminata (AA), Avena fatua (AF), Cannabis sativa (CS), Capparis spinosa (CaS), Commiphora wightii (CW), Cymbopogon citratus (CC), Datura alba (DA), Daucus carota (DC), Ziziphus mauritiana (FM), and Hyoscyamus niger (HN). Our study's elemental analysis using PIXE and ICP-OES on various parts of 16 medicinal plants identified a significant number of useful elements. Elements such as Ca, K, S, P, Al, Si, Cl, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Cr were identified and quantified. These findings support the potential use of these plants in managing diabetes and highlight the importance of elemental profiling in understanding their therapeutic properties.

Monitoring Energy Balance, Turbulent Flux Partitioning, Evapotranspiration and Biophysical Parameters of Nopalea cochenillifera (Cactaceae) in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Environment

The in-situ quantification of turbulent flux and evapotranspiration (ET) is necessary to monitor crop performance in stressful environments. Although cacti can withstand stressful conditions, plant responses and plant-environment interactions remain unclear. Hence, the objective of our study was to investigate the interannual and seasonal behaviour of components of the surface energy balance, environmental conditions, morphophysiological parameters, biomass yield and water relations in a crop of Nopalea cochenillifera in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The data were collected from a micrometeorological tower between 2015 and 2017. The results demonstrate that net radiation was significantly higher during the wet season. Latent heat flux was not significant between the wet season and dry season. During the dry-wet transition season in particular, sensible heat flux was higher than during the other seasons. We observed a large decline in soil heat flux during the wet season. There was no difference in ET during the wet or dry seasons; however, there was a 40% reduction during the dry-wet transition. The wet seasons and wet-dry transition showed the lowest Evaporative Stress Index. The plants showed high cladode water content and biomass during the evaluation period. In conclusion, these findings indicate high rates of growth, high biomass and a high cladode water content and explain the response of the cactus regarding energy partitioning and ET.

Trace Element Quantification in Two Algerian Thymes (Thymus algeriensis Boiss & Reut. and Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffm. & Link) Using EDXRF Spectrometry

In an attempt to know the elemental composition of two endemic Algerian thyme species, we analyzed eleven mineral and trace elements (Br, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Rb, Sr, V, and Zn) in Thymus algeriensis Boiss & Reut. and Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffm. & Link. These species are commonly used in Algeria as aromatic and medicinal shrubs. The total concentrations of chemical elements were determined by EDXRF spectrometry. The instrument calibration was assessed through the analysis of certified reference material CRM-336 (Lichen) from the IAEA, Vienna, Austria. The results show that the highest concentrations of the micronutrients (Br, Cr, Cu, Mn, Sr, V, and Zn) were registered in T. algeriensis, while the maximum concentrations of Ca, Fe, and the non-essential element, Rb, were found in T. capitatus. Potassium contents were similar in the two species. The concentrations of essential chemical elements in T. algeriensis leaves were found in the following order: K > Ca > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr. However, the order of these elements in T. capitatus was Ca > K > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that T. algeriensis was highly associated with Br, Cr, Cu, Mn, Sr, V, and Zn, while T. capitatus was correlated with Ca, Fe, K, and Rb. Dietary element intakes through ingestion of 1 teaspoon of dry powder (~ 10 g) were estimated and compared to recommended daily intakes and permissible limits under FAO/WHO guidelines. In all cases, these estimates were below those levels. These findings can enhance the dissemination of these medicinal plants, which have medicinal and organoleptic properties, and provide an experiment-based guidance to the pharmaceutical and food industries.