CIBTech Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN: 2319–3891 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/cjps.htm 2016 Vol.5 (2) April-June, pp.31-35/Ghani et al. Research Article Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 31 MACRO AND MICRO ELEMENTS DETECTION IN TWO SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS (CYNODON DACTYLON AND SOLANUM SURRATTENS) OF SOON VALLEY, KHUSHAB, PAKISTAN Abdul Ghani, *Mujahid Hussain, Muhammad Ikram, Iftikhar Ahmad and Mishal Iftikhar Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Solanum surrattens belongs to family Solanaceae. It is a large plant family covering two thousand and three hundred species, almost half of which belong to a single genus, Solanum. This family consists of a number of plants extensively known for the presence of variety of natural products of medicinal significance. Crude plant extract of Solanum surrattens is beneficial in bronchial asthma and non-specific cough, influenza, rheumatism, difficult urination, bladder stones etc. While Cynodon dactylon is reported to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, and has been recommended for cure of prostatitis, urinary tract infection and dysentery. Additional research has been documented on C. dactylon involving its glycemic potential, which is involved in the treatment of diabeteas. It is necessary to find out the concentration of macro ((K, Na) and micro (Ni, Zn, Mn and Pb) elemental composition by atomic absorption spectrophotometer for the cure of diseases. In addition, some relevant aspects such as medicinal uses of some studied plants, diseases due to toxicity and deficiency of trace elements are also discussed. Keywords: Solanum Surrattens, Plant Extract, Antimicrobial, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer INTRODUCTION All living organisms require certain metals for their growth and proper metabolism so; they evolved an appropriate uptake mechanism for metals. Plants play a key role in a man’s life as they have provided man with all his needs such as clothing, food, flavors, shelter and fragrances, as well as most important medicines. Plants have formed the basis of primitive traditional medicine systems. Some plant species have potential to grow in the metal contaminated soil and accumulate high amount of heavy metals (hyper-accumulation) as an eco-physiological adaptation in metaliferous soil. Aromatic herbs and medicinal plants have been getting attention from all over the world due to their efficiency as alternative of medicines. They helped the man by curing human ailments without any known side effects. Asteraceae is medically an important family of plants. According to the herbal practitioner Solanum surrattens is very important herb in system of medicines. They used S. surrattens for different types of ailments. With the acceptance of importance of these plants, it is very necessary to know the chemical constituent and their role in body. For this purpose; medically two important plants were collected from the areas of Soon Valley, Pakistan. These plants consist of inorganic constituents like Na + , Cl - , K +, Mg 2+ , CO 2-, SO4 3 and PO4 3+ . The whole plant body is used especially roots and fruits as a medicines. S. surrattens are common medicinal plants. These are used in chemical analysis because they have economical and medicinal values and used to manifest physiological effects on human being by knowing their exact concentration (Iqbal et al., 2011). Due to minimal side effects, acceptability to the majority of population and easy availability herbal products become popular in medicine communication. It is therefore, of major interest to find out the levels of some elements in common herbal plants because, at high levels, these elements can also be dangerous and toxic. It was therefore necessary to explore the present status of local plants in terms of selected heavy metals and macronutrients (Zn, Ni, K, Mn and Na). All the elements were accumulated to greater or lower extents in selected two plant species (Cynodon dactylon and Solanum surrattens) enlisted in Table 1.