Catalytic Spectrophotometric Determination of Manganese in Some Medicinal Plants and Their Infusions

The therapeutic effect of medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases is based on the chemical compounds in these plants. The major components are organic compounds, some of which have biological activity, but none act independently and they cannot replace the functions of the medicinal plant as a whole. Analyses have revealed that medicinal plants are rich in many trace elements, and it is suggested that this is an important factor in the curative effect of these plants1−3. The states in which trace elements may be found in the plant matrix are organically bound, complexed and free. It is well known that different states and forms can have different functions, bio-toxicological activity and percentage absorption by the body4−7. Trace elements co-exist with numerous organic compounds (many of which are complex agents) in the infusions of medicinal plants, and probably most are bound to organic compounds. Therefore, the concentration of the free trace elements should be very low.