© Copyright 2005 by Humana Press Inc.

All rights of any nature, whatsoever, reserved.

0163-4984/05/10302–0109 $30.00

Mineral Content of Some Medicinal

Plants Used in the Treatment
of Diabetes Mellitus
R. T. NARENDHIRAKANNAN,1 S. SUBRAMANIAN,*,2
AND M. KANDASWAMY1
1
Departments of Inorganic Chemistry and
2
Biochemistry, University of Madras, Chennai-25, India
Received March 24, 2004; Accepted May 20, 2004.

ABSTRACT
It is known that certain inorganic trace elements such as vanadium,
zinc, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, sodium, and nickel play an
important role in the maintenance of normoglycemia by activating the β-
cells of the pancreas. In the present study, the elemental composition in the
leaves of four traditional medicinal plants (Murraya koenigii, Mentha piperi-
tae, Ocimum sanctum, and Aegle marmelos) widely used in the treatment of
diabetes-related metabolic disorders has been studied using atomic
absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Cu, Ni, Zn, K, and Na were found
to be in trace amounts, whereas Fe, Cr, and V levels were found in mar-
ginal levels. The importance of these elements in disorders related to dia-
betes is also briefly discussed.
Index Entries: Trace elements; minerals; medicinal plants; diabetes
mellitus; inorganic constituents.

INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in trace element con-
centrations in the environment and they are considered a factor indispen-
sable for its proper functioning. These elements are contained in enzymes
and activate them, thereby in an essential way influencing the biochemical
process in cells (1).

* Author to whom all correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed.

Biological Trace Element Research 109 Vol. 103, 2005

110 Narendhirakannan, Subramanian, and Kandaswamy

Research during the past two decades has added chromium, nickel,
vanadium, selenium, silicon, molybdenum, iron, and arsenic to the list of
essential elements. An essential element is one required for maintenance of
life when a deficient intake consistently results in an impairment of a func-
tion from optimal to suboptimal and when supplementation with physio-
logical levels of this element, but not of others, prevents or cures this
impairment (2). An important link in the transfer of trace elements from
soil to humans are plants (3).
Among the very many ill-fated diseases, diabetes is a heterogeneous
metabolic disorder characterized by altered carbohydrate, lipid, and pro-
tein metabolism. More than 1% of the entire world population is victim to
diabetes and their numbers are gradually increasing. In the United King-
dom, the prevalence of diabetic mellitus is approx 2% of the population,
and in United States, it is approx 3%. In India, a high occurrence of the dis-
ease is noted, especially in urban populations and is, therefore, a major
health problem (4). The management of diabetes mellitus is considered a
global problem and successful treatment is yet to be discovered.
Medicinal plants are inextricably intertwined with the rich history,
culture, and culinary tradition of India. It is reported that 4639 ethnic com-
munities who lived in different regions of India use locally available
medicinal plants to treat various ailments, based on their rich and varied
folk knowledge. Similarly, medicinal plants are also used by the codified
systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Tibetian, and Unani. In
most preparations, the medicinal plants being used very often are in pow-
der or paste forms of the crude herbs, which contain both organic and inor-
ganic constituents.
Various plants are used to manage diabetes, such as Murraya koenigii,
Aegle marmelos, Ocimum sanctum, Mentha piperitae, Cajanus cajan, Coccinia
indica, Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Brassica juncea, and Eugenia
jambolana (5). From these, we have selected four plants: Murraya koeinigii
and Mentha piperitae, which are used frequently in the preparation of foods
for the daily life, and the Indian holy plants Ocimum sanctum and Aegle
marmelos for the present study.
However, experimental studies done so far on hypoglycemic herbs
were mostly with their organic active principles extracted in alcoholic and
aqueous extracts (6–10). The present investigation is to prove the scientific
approach of the biological role of inorganic macroelements and microele-
ments such as V, Zn, Cr, Fe, Cu, K, Na, and Ni present in plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plant Materials
In the present study, fresh and healthy leaves of M. koenigii, O. sanc-
tum, M. piperitae, and A. marmelos were collected from the rural area of

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005

Mineral Content of Medicinal Plants 111

Table 1
Operating Conditions of the GBC-Avantha AAS and Detection Limits
of the Investigated Elements

Dindigul District, Tamilnadu and shade-dried. Authentication (Authenti-

cation nos. 1214, 1426, 1352, 1187) of the plants was carried out with the
help of Professor V. Kaviyarasan, Centre for Advanced Study in Botany,
University of Madras and the voucher specimens of the plants have been
retained at the department herbarium.

Preparation of Plant Samples

The properly dried and ground plant samples were placed in a vitre-
osil crucible overnight in an electric muffle furnace maintained at a tem-
perature between 400°C and 420°C, because loss of zinc might occur at
>450°C and for potassium, loss might occur if the temperature is too high
(>480°C). Ashing will destroy all of the organic materials present in the
samples. The crucible containing pure ash was then taken out of the muffle
furnace and kept in a desiccator (4). Then, the ash was digested with the
triple acid mixture of nitric acid : sulfuric acid : perchloric acid (11 : 6 : 3),
a clear solution was obtained when dissolved in HCl. This solution was
made up to 25 mL with water (10). The yield of the ash of each sample
was determined and is presented in Table 2.
For the complete extraction of the organic part of the plant samples
separately, 100g medicinal plant samples was Soxhlet extracted with 450

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005

112 Narendhirakannan, Subramanian, and Kandaswamy

Table 2
Yield of the Samples

mL of 95% ethanol at controlled temperature. The extract was collected

and concentrated under reduced pressure and 45°C using a vacuum pump
for complete removal of the solvent (4). The yield of the ethanolic extract
of each sample was determined and is presented in Table 2.

Instrumentation and Analytical Procedures

The determination of the trace element content of M. koenigii, M. piper-
itae, O. sanctum, and A. marmelos were carried out using an atomic absorp-
tion spectrometer (AAS) (GBC—Avanta, Australia). The operating
conditions for the AAS and the detection limits of the investigated ele-
ments are listed in Table 1.

RESULTS
The yield of the samples from organic extraction and by the ashing
method is shown in Table 2. Table 3 presents the elemental analysis in ash
of the above-mentioned plants by AAS technique. The concentration of var-
ious elements analyzed in the present work decreases in the order: Murraya
koenigii: Fe>V>Cr>Ni>Cu>Zn; Mentha piperitae: Fe>Cr>V>Ni>Zn, Cu; Oci-
mum sanctum: Cr>Fe>Ni>V>Cu>Zn; Aegle marmelos: Fe>Cr>Ni>Cu>V>Zn.

DISCUSSION
This study demonstrated that the trace metal content in M. koenigii,
M. piperitae, O. sanctum, and A. marmelos have potential antidiabetic
activity. The knowledge of the chemical form of the elements in plants
of economic interest might be crucial because actions can be taken to

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005

Mineral Content of Medicinal Plants 113

Table 3
Amount of Trace Elements in the Plants by AAS Analysis (µg)

Note: Values are averages of three independent measurements having a precision of

approx ± 1%.

reduce or minimize the toxic effects of the environment pollutant heavy

metals (11).
The yields of the ash were relatively higher than the total organic
extracts. Thus, compared with total organic extracts, ashing is less expen-
sive and less time-consuming. The role of inorganic elements like Zn, Cr,
V, Fe, Cu, and Ni in the improvement of impaired glucose tolerance and
their indirect role in management of diabetes mellitus are being increas-
ingly recognized.
Vanadium, a group VB transition element, was reported to elicit glu-
cose lowering and cardioprotective effect in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic
rats by Heyliger (12). Insulin mimetic actions of vanadium have been well
documented in several in vitro (13,14) and in vivo models of Type I dia-
betes, including chemically STZ-induced diabetes in rats (15). Vanadium
in some studies has been shown to improve glucose homeostasis in genet-
ically obese, hyperinsulinemic, and insulin-resistant rats and mice exhibit-
ing some of the characteristics of Type II diabetes (15,16).
Complexes of zinc and insulin in varying ratios are stored in pancre-
atic β-cells and released into the circulation via the portal vein (17). Abnor-
mal zinc metabolism has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis
of diabetes and/or its complications (18), and tissue zinc deficiency has
been observed in genetically obese, insulin-resistant diabetic mice (19).
Zinc deficiency in diabetic conditions appeared to result from hypo-
glycemia, impaired zinc absorption, and excessive zinc excretion. Zinc
enhances the effectiveness of insulin in vitro (20).
Chromium, a group VIB transition element, is essential for normal
carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (21). Deficiency of chromium has
been implicated as one of the causes of diabetes mellitus (22,23). Normal
potassium concentration is necessary for optimal insulin secretion, and

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005

114 Narendhirakannan, Subramanian, and Kandaswamy

deficiency of potassium causes diabetic acidosis. Potassium depletion can

result in reduced glucose tolerance. Sodium and potassium ions play an
important role in the diseases related to renal disorders (24).
Enzymes that do not contain a trace element as an integral part but are
activated by metals such as Cu, Fe, and Ni respond to in vitro addition of
several transition elements with a dose-dependent activation (25). This
suggests that the high degree of specificity in vivo is brought about by car-
riers with specific sites that recognize a certain element when it enters the
organism and delivers it to its own site of action, but not to others. Among
the large carrier molecules are plasma proteins, such as transferrin, ceru-
loplasmin, albumin, α-macroglobulin, transmanganin, and nicleoplasmin.
The carrier substances assure the delivery of trace elements to their spe-
cific sites of action. At these sites, the action of trace element is specific and
is dependent on properties such as valence state, redox potential, ionic
radius, coordination number, coordination geometry, spin state (high vs
low spin transition), and rate of ligand exchange (4).
From the present study, it is concluded that the presence of various
inorganic trace elements such as vanadium, zinc, chromium, copper, iron,
nickel, potassium, and sodium in the leaves of M. koenigii, M. piperitae, O.
sanctum, and A. marmelos could account for the hypoglycemic nature of the
plants. The yield of the ash was quantitatively higher than that of organic
extract. Further, the data obtained on individual element concentration in
each plant will be useful in deciding the dosage of herbal drugs prepared
from these plant material for the management of diabetes-related meta-
bolic disorders. Ongoing studies are progressing in evaluating the mecha-
nism(s) of action of these elements present in the ash, in lowering the
blood glucose level in experimental diabetes.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank the University Grants Commission, New Delhi,
India for their support in the form of financial aid for this project.

REFERENCES
1. A. Lozak, K. Soltyk, P. Ostapczuk, and Z. Fijalek, Determination of selected trace ele-
ments in herbs and their infusions, Sci. Total Environ. 289, 33–40 (2002).
2. W. Mertz, The essential trace elements, Science 213, 1332–1338 (1981).
3. K. Wierzchowska-Renke, S. Ivancheva, and M. Kurteva, Effect of environment pollu-
tion on the composition of polyphenol and bioelements content in Achillea millefolium
L. and Tanacetum vulgare L., Herba Pol. 43, 413–418 (1997).
4. A. Kar, B. K. Choudhary, and N. G. Bandyopadyay, Preliminary studies on the inor-
ganic constituents of some indigenous hypoglycemic herbs on oral glucose tolerance
test, J. Ethnopharmcol. 64, 179–184 (1999).
5. J. K. Grover, S. Yadav, and V. Vats, Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic poten-
tial, J. Ethnopharmacol. 81, 81–100 (2002).

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005

Mineral Content of Medicinal Plants 115

6. B. A. Khan, A. Abraham, and S. Leelamma, Hypoglycemic action of Murraya koeinigii

(curry leaf) and Brassica juncea (mustard): mechanism of action, Indian J. Biochem. Bio-
phys. 32(2), 106–108 (1995).
7. H. J. Dorman, M. Kosar, K. Kahles, Y. Holm, and H. R. Hi, Antioxidant properties and
composition of aqueous extracts from Mentha species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars,
J. Agric. Food Chem. 51(16), 4563–4569 (2003).
8. P. Agarwal, V. Rai, and R. B. Singh, Randomized placebo controlled, single blind trial
of holy basil leaves in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Int. J.
Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 34(9), 406–409 (1996).
9. A. V. Das, P. S. Padayatti, and C. S. Paulose, Effect of leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (L.)
Correa ex Roxb. on histological and ultra structural changes in tissues of streptozotocin
induced diabetic rats, Indian J. Exp. Biol. 34(4), 341–345 (1996).
10. U. S. Ghemisis, Steel. Determination of vanadium, in Sampling and Analysis of Carbon
and Alloy Steels, Reinhold, New York, 1938.
11. V. G. Mihucz, E. Tatar, B. Kmethy, G. Zaray, and E. Cseh, Investigation of transported
heavy metal ions in xylem sap of cucumber plants by size exclusion chromatography
and atomic absorption spectrometry, J. Inorg. Biochem. 81, 81–87 (2000).
12. C. E. Heyliger, A. G. Tahiliani, and J. H. McNeill, Effect of vanadate on elevated blood
glucose and depressed cardiac performance of diabetic rats, Science 227, 1474 (1985).
13. Y. Schecter and S. J. D. Karlish, Insulin-like stimulation of glucose oxidation in rat
adipocytes by vanadyl(IV) ions, Nature 284, 556 (1980).
14. Y. Schecter and A. Ron, Effects of depletion of phosphate and bicarbonate ions on
insulin action in rat adipocytes, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14,945 (1986).
15. L. Rosetti, A. Giaccari, E. Klein-Robbenharr, and L. R. Vogel, Insulinomimetic proper-
ties of trace elements and characterization of their in vivo mode of action, Diabetes 39,
1243 (1999).
16. V. G. Yuen, E. Vera, M. L. Battell, W. M. Li, and J. H. McNeil, Acute and chronic oral
administration of bis (metallato) oxovanadium(IV) on fa/fa Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF)
rats, Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 43, 9 (1999).
17. D. A. Scott and A. M. Fisher, The insulin and zinc content of normal and diabetic pan-
creas, J. Clin. Invest. 17, 725–728 (1938).
18. M. L. Failla, N. E. Craft, and G. A. Weinberg, Depressed response of plasma iron and
zinc to endotoxin and LEM in STZ diabetic rats, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 172, 445–448
(1983).
19. A. S. Levine, C. J. McClain, B. S. Handwerger, D. M. Brown, and J. E. Morley, Tissue zinc
status of genetically diabetic and streptozotocin induced diabetic mice, Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
37, 382–386 (1983).
20. J. M. May and C. S. Contreggi, The mechanism of the insulin-like effects of ionic zinc,
J. Biol. Chem. 257, 4362–4368 (1982).
21. W. Mertz, Chromium in human nutrition: a review, J. Nutr. 123, 626–633 (1993).
22. R. A. Anderson, Chromium glucose tolerance, diabetes and lipid metabolism, J. Adv.
Med. 8, 37–49 (1995).
23. R. A. Anderon, Recent advances in the clinical and biochemical manifestation of
chromium deficiency in human and animal nutrition, J. Trace Elements Exp. Med. 11,
241–250 (1998).
24. N. S. Rajurkar and M. M. Damame, Mineral content of medicinal plants used in the
treatment of diseases resulting from urinary tract disorders, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 49(7),
773–776 (1998).
25. J. F. Speck, The effect of cations on the decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid, J. Biol. Chem.
178, 315 (1949).

Biological Trace Element Research Vol. 103, 2005