Determination of manganese and selenium levels in Iranian herbal drops by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry technique

In the present work, Se and Mn analysis was carried out among some popular Iranian herbal drops to monitor a possible accumulation of adverse elements. In this study, five different herbal drops present in Iranian market were selected, and 45 samples of each (totally 225 samples) were collected, and analyzed for the presence and determination of selenium and manganese using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were prepared by the dry ashing method at 450 °C, and the residue was dissolved in nitric acid. Se and Mn contents were determined using calibration curves at wavelength 196.0 and 279.5 nm respectively. LOD of the methods were determined as 9.1 µgL-1 for Se and 0.9 µgL-1 for Mn. LOQs were calculated to be 30.0 and 3.0 µgL-1 for Se and Mn, respectively. The Se concentrations in the determined samples were between ND-21.0 µgL-1 and for Mn were in the range of 7.2-1840.7 µgL-1. Mean Se and Mn concentrations (µgL-1) were 4.7 and 43.7 for Vitagnus, 9.6 and 185.1 for Hypiran, 13.3 and 338.5 for Carminat, 21.0 and 1840.7 for Persica, and ND and 7.2 for Menthol, respectively. The results showed that Mn was present in all of the samples analyzed, but no selenium was detected in some herbal drop samples.