Mineral concentrations of 12 Chinese medicinal herbs used as diuretic treatments for Taiwanese children

摘要

Chinese medicinal herbs are commonly consumed by children in Taiwan as diuretics. The contents of 18 minerals in 12 selected Chinese medical herbs were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The herb samples were irradiated in a neutron flux around 2×10<'12>n·cm<'2>·s<'1>. This study found that concentrations of the mineral elements in these herbs ranged from 10<'4> (K) to 10<'-2>μg·g<'1> (Sm). The concentration of manganese ranges from 34.6±2.0μg·g<'1> in Mutong to 100± 30μg·g<'-1> in Zexie.