ICP-OES determination of inorganic elements in Panax quinquefolium L. and its processed products.

[Objective] To measure the content of 23 inorganic elements in Panax quinquefolium L. samples from different growth years, different harvesting periods, different medicinal parts, different commercial specifications and different processed products, including Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and K; To respectively count 6 trace elements that were essential to human body, including Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, Mo, Mn, and 2 toxic elements As and Hg; To investigate the medicinal value of P.quinquefolium medicinal materials from different growth years, different harvesting periods, different medicinal parts, different commercial specifications and different processed products. [Method]After P.quinquefolium medicinal materials had been digested by HNO3-H2O2, the content of all elements was measured using microwave assisted digestion-inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). [Result] The average recovery rate of all elements ranged from 92.7% to 106.1% with RSD below 4.5%. All elements did not interfere with each other under the optimized experimental conditions, so they could be determined at the same time. It was discovered by principal component analysis that Al, K, Ti, B, Sn, Cd, Na, Mo and Zn were the characteristic elements of P.quinquefolium samples. As for different commercial specifications, Fe and Mn contents were relatively higher, Zn content was at a moderate level and the Cu, Mo and Se content were relatively lower. The contents of inorganic elements were higher in three-year-old samples than in two-year-old and four-year-old samples. Moreover, the contents of inorganic elements in fibrous roots were higher than those in lateral roots. Different processed products of P.quinquefolium contained higher contents of Fe and Mn. Fe content of Red RADIX PANACIS QUINQUEFOLII was significantly higher than that of White RADIX PANACIS QUINQUEFOLII. There was little difference in Mn and Zn contents. Cu, Mo and Se contents were relatively lower in P.quinquefolium samples. [Conclusion] There were no obvious correlations between the contents of 6 essential elements and growth years, harvesting periods and medicinal parts. The roots, stems and leaves of P.quinquefolium contained higher contents of Ca, K, Mg and P, as well as lower contents of Mo, Sr, Ti, Co and Cd. Hg and other toxic metal elements were not found in P.quinquefolium samples. These pointed out that the roots, stems and leaves of P.quinquefolium were safe for human body with nutritional value and medicinal value. Therefore, we suggested developing stems and leaves of P.quinquefolium Red RADIX PANACIS QUINQUEFOLII into commodities for food, medicine and veterinary use every year. In addition, it is necessary to further study Red RADIX PANACIS QUINQUEFOLII, the processed product of P.quinquefolium.