[Determination of six nutritional elements in Chinese herbal medicines by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry].

Method for the determination of nutritional elements in three kinds of chinese traditional and herbal drugs including leaves of Ginkgo biloba L., Eucommiales, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino were studied. Samples were collected in middle of autumn, washed in water and dried by airing. About 0.5 g accurately weighed sample was digested with mixed acid of HNO3-HClO4 (4:1). Six kinds of elements of selenium, germanium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese in the digested solution were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) respectively. Accuracy of employed AAS method was tested by the determination of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn in standard material of peach leaves. The results obtained show proposed GFAAS method is simple, accuracy, rapid and practicable. The contents of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn in these plant leaves are high. Especially Se in Ginkgo biloba L. and Ge in Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino were obviously higher than other herbal drugs. They are worth much more comprehensive utilization. The relation between concentrations of these nutritional elements and curative effect was also discussed.