Neutron Activation Analysis: An Excellent Nondestructive Analytical Technique for Trace Metal Analysis

For proper functioning of the human body, several metals are required in different concentrations but if their concentration slightly elevates, because of any metal-contaminated environment or of other food sources, which leads to high toxicity and different chronic health issues. Different analytical techniques like atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma- mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy are used for metals analysis present in different samples in different fields but nowadays neutron activation analysis (NAA) is preferred over other analytical techniques because it is an efficient, multi-elemental, nondestructive analytical technique having an ultralow minimum detection limit, therefore it can detect heavy metals (HMs) even if at a very trace level parts per billion (ppb) with a quite simple sample preparation technique. This technique is known as "referee technique" because of its accuracy and trustworthiness. There is a widespread use of this technique in biomedical science like in Alzheimer's disease, cancer, arthritis, metabolism study, brain tumor and in many more conditions where metals are actively present. For its typical sample sizes and due to a multitude of additional benefits, it also helps in mapping of pathophysiology of the disease. Besides all, mainly in biomedical science the biological samples can easily be analyzed irrespective of any form. In recent years NAA is preferred over other analytical techniques in several research fields, so this article focuses on the analytical technique, its general principle and recent applications.

Application of instumetal neutron activation analysis method for determination of some trace elements in lichens around three sites in Algiers

Trace elements (TEs) constitute a major part of pollution, which can induce a detrimental impact on public health. A precise analysis of these elements in the environment is an important parameter in the evaluation of the population's quality of life. This work aims to quantify the concentration of some trace elments in enviromental samples using Istrumental Neutron Activation Analysis technique (INAA); also a comparative study between three sampling points (Draria, Baraki and Reghaia) were done. The Samples and standards were irradiated for 6 h at “NUR” research reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 1013 n cm−2 s−1, and analyzed by gamma ray spectrometry using HPGe detector. Seventeen elements were assessed: Ba, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Hf, Fe, La, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Yb and Zn in this study. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The data obtained in this work may contribute to obtaining information about a possible rank of pollution and the different capabilities of elemental bioaccumulation by lichens.

Statistical Approach and Neutron Activation Analysis for Determining Essential and Toxic Elements in Two Kinds of Algerian Artemisia Plant

In this study, two kinds of Artemisia plant, Artemisia campestris L. and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., collected from different locations in Djelfa province, Algeria, were subjected to an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in order to determine their essential and toxic elements for the first time. The obtained results for both types revealed the existence of twenty-one elements, namely, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Yb, and Zn, where, the elements K, Ca, Fe, and Na respectively showed a significant concentration. On the other hand, the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of the studied plants for an adult person per day was within the tolerance limits imposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hence, these findings might therefore be used to offer scientific basis for an optimum usage of the studied plants and so enriches the database of medicinal herbs.

Minerals, Essential Oils, and Biological Properties of Melissa officinalis L

This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. The essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) using a Clevenger-type apparatus of dry leaves of M. officinalis and was analyzed by two techniques, gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eighteen minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (As, Br, K, La, Na, Sb, Sm, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Sc, Th, and Zn) were determined using neutron activation analysis technique for the first time from Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. Seventy-eight compounds were identified in the essential oil, representing 94.090% of the total oil and the yields were 0.470%. The major component was geranial (45.060%). Other predominant components were neral (31.720%) and citronellal (6.420%). The essential oil presented high antimicrobial activity against microorganisms, mainly five human pathogenic bacteria, one yeast, Candida albicans, and two phytopathogenic fungi. The results can be used as a source of information for the pharmaceutical industry and medical research.

Radiochemical separation by liquid-liquid extraction for the determination of selenium in Mentha pulegium L.: Toxicity monitoring and health study

In Algeria, Data and studies on the non-metal trace element selenium (Se) are presently lacking, therefore, the aim of this investigation is to provide new data on (Se) element via its determination for the first time from Mentha pulegium L. plant. The plant samples were collected in summer of 2012 from Ain-Oussera region, Djelfa province, Algeria; they were dried and powdered. After the neutron irradiation, the samples were digested using high oxidative reagents including H₂SO₄, HNO₃, H₂O₂ and HCl. The end of this process gave two phases, organic and aqueous discard phase. By using a separating funnel, the organic phase was transferred into a vial in order to measure their induce radionuclide ⁷⁵Se using gamma-ray spectrometer. A non-chromatographic and sensitive analytical technique RNAA (Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis), was applied in this investigation due to its great significant minor systematic error. Results were determined using two distinguish calculation methods, relative-RNAA and k₀-RNAA, the findings were quite significant, whereas, the average separation yield was about 85% for both calculation methodologies. Moreover, (Se) concentration obtained from M. pulegium L., is close to the minimal FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) recommended consumption.

Concentrations and Health Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in Cereals, Fruits, and Vegetables of Bangladesh

This study was conducted to determine concentrations of five toxic trace elements (Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb) in cereals, fruits, and vegetables of Bangladesh. The range of mass fractions (mg/kg) of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb in the foodstuffs was 0.090-2.5, 0.03-2.6, 0.13-1.7, 0.010-0.74, and 0.37-2.2, respectively. This study indicates that concentration of Cr, and Pb in fruits; As, Cd, and Pb in vegetables were higher than WHO/FAO maximum allowable concentration levels. The hazard index (HI) values for adults and children of the toxic elements in studied cereals, fruits and vegetables were higher than 1.0, suggesting non-carcinogenic adverse health hazard to the consumers. The estimated target carcinogenic risk (TCR) values were greater than the threshold level of 1.0 × 10^-4 for Cr and Cd in cereals and vegetables indicate potential cancer risk to both adults and children for consumption of the foodstuffs. The present study reveals that trace elements contamination in foodstuffs is a serious issue of concern in Bangladesh.

Chemical composition and biological activity of Mentha citrata Ehrh., essential oils growing in southern Algeria

Three techniques, hydro distillation, steam distillation and microwave-assisted distillation, was used in this work to extract volatile secondary metabolites essential oils (EOs), from the aerial part of Mentha citrata Ehrh., plant (steams, leaves and flowers). The plant material was collected from a location called El-kobna in El-Oued province, southern Algeria during June 2018. The extracted Mentha citrata EOs, were analyzed using both gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography attached with mass spectrometry detector techniques. The antioxidant activity of these EOs were evaluated in vitro using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals scavenging activity and cytotoxic test. The results of the EOs analysis showed large variability of the chemical compositions for all techniques. Moreover, a promising cytotoxic activity on colon cancer cells was found.

Radiochemical neutron activation analysis for the determination of selenium in Mentha spicata L. samples collected from Djelfa, Algeria region

Selenium (Se) has been a focus of attention as an important micronutrient with its impact on human health, with there being consequences either due to excess or deficiency in intake. Radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) is well established method for determination of a number of elements at trace level concentrations with high sensitivities. In this work, we used the RNAA method for determination of selenium content in Mentha spicata L. The result of this study was compared with those samples from India and Serbia. The result obtained show that, Se concentration obtained in M. spicata L., is close to the minimal FAO recommendation.

Dietary Intake and Content of Some Micronutrients and Toxic Elements in Two Algerian Spices (Coriandrum sativum L. and Cuminum cyminum L.)

This study presents the elemental concentration obtained in two Algerian spices (Coriandrum sativum L. and Cuminum cyminum L.) evaluated by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), in order to highlight the importance of these spices as a potential source of micronutrients. The daily intake of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements were determined and compared with the recommended values (RDA) and were found to be well below the tolerance limits. Twenty-two elements were assessed, eight essential chemicals were quantified with tendency K > Ca > Na > Fe > Zn > Cr > Co > Se, and three potential toxic elements were present in the descending content pattern Br > As > Sb.