- Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2013) Volume 3, Issue 23

Estimation of Total Iron Content of Aqueous Extract of Lepidagathis Incurva

Lepidagathis Incurva is a common herb which is found in the hot Indo- Burmese and Malaysian regions in forests and thickets at low to medium altitudes. Ethno botanical journals have reported that the plant has been used by tribals for many different uses like treatment of blindness, ear infection, hematinic, hemostatic1 etc. The sample specimen for the present study was collected from vaidyamadham, Mezhathur, Trithala, Palakkad, where it has been reported to be used by Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Cheriya Narayanan namboodiri as hematinic. The dosage preferred was eating 10 leaves of Lepidagathis Incurva early morning in daily basis; good results have been reported with increase in hemoglobin content within one month. In the present study iron content estimation was done by two methods, UV estimation2 and atomic absorption3. The content of Iron in the microwave digested sample was found to be 1.074mg/L by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Iron-1,10-phenanthroline complex method was used for UV method and the Fe content was found to be 0.9mg/L. Acute toxicity studies were carried out by following the OECD guidelines. The plant showed good potential for being included in polyherbal formulaions as phytonutrient.

Author(s): Rahul. K, Jessy Jacob

Abstract PDF