Abstract

The present study was conducted for the detection and measurement of calcium levels in indigenous medicinal plants using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A total 14 plants were selected from families Umbelliferae, Leguminosae and Boraginaceae. The range of calcium concentration varied from the highest of 103.972mg/g to the lowest of 5.172mg/g in all the plants analyzed. Onosma bracteatum leaves (103.972mg/g) and Onosma echioides roots (91.159mg/g) have the highest calcium contents whereas it was the lowest in Tamarindus indica fruit (5.172mg/g). Calcium concentrations were highest in family Boraginaceae followed by Umbelliferae and Leguminosae, respectively. The calcium contents of Onosma bracteatum leaves from family Boragnaceae were highest (103.972mg/g) and they were the lowest (6.384mg/g) in Cordia latifolia fruit. Ferula foetida resin from the family Umbelliferae had the highest calcium contents (56.803mg/g) followed by Carum bulbocastanum seeds (25.083mg/g) and Foeniculum vulgare seeds (20.170mg/g), respectively. Within the family Leguminosae, Glycyrrhiza glabra root had the highest (21.990mg/g) whereas Tamarindus indica fruit had the lowest (5.172mg/g) calcium contents. Based on the results it is concluded that indigenous medicinal plant commonly used in local system of medicine had high concentrations of calcium and can be used as natural source of calcium.