Level Of Essential And Non-essential Metals In Gesho (rhamnus Prinoides) Cultivated In Ethiopia

Rhamnus prinoides leaves and stems have been used for bitterness of local alcoholic beverages inrnEthiopia for several hundreds of years and as traditional medicine in some African countries likernKenya and South Africa; never the less, level of essential and non-essential elements of this plantrnhas not been conducted so far. Thus, this study has assessed the level of essential (Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn,rnFe, Co, Cu and Zn) and non-essential elements (Cd and Pb) of R. prinoides leaves and stemsrncultivated in Ethiopia using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The solutions for the analysisrnof the metals in leaf and stem mentioned above were prepared by the carefully optimized mixturernof HNO3, H2O2 and HClO4 reagents using wet digestion with a reflux condenser. The efficiency ofrnthe optimized procedure was validated by spiking experiment and the percent of recovery for allrnthe metals was (92-103 for leaf samples and 91-103 for the stem samples). The concentrations ofrnall the metals mentioned above were analyzed and the concentrations were reported in (mg/kg)rnexcept the concentration of chromium at Simche zala in stem sample, the concentrations ofrncadmium in stem samples at two sample sites (Kesatyebirhan ,Gedga Amba and Migra) and thernconcentrations of lead in stem at all sample sites were below the method detection limit and hencernwere not reported. The concentrations of the metals found were: Mg (3202–4622), Ca (6304–rn22236), Cd (0.81–3.10), Cr (5.10–18.7), Mn (8.12–20.6), Fe (47.9–187), Co (22.2–42.1), Ni (12.8–rn27.3), Cu (6.5–73.0), Zn (12.2–43), Pb (17.7–25.0) in leaf samples and Mg (2635–5528), Carn(3601–5675), Cd (1.00–1.56), Cr (5.42–16.3), Mn (2.16–3.82), Fe (22.0–124), Co (18.7–91.7), Nirn(9.68–19.2), Cu (16.6–233) and Zn (17.4–28.2) in stem samples.rnKey words: Rhamnus prinoides, Gesho, Leaf, Stem, Minerals, Flame atomic absorptionrnspectroscopy, Local alcoholic beverages, Medicinal uses, Wet digestion

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