Spectrophotometric determination of manganese (II) in Sida spinosa Linn.

Abstract

Manganese is of universal occurrence in plant and has been identified as forming metallo-enzymes as superoxide dismutase ( mitochondrial), arginase, pyruvate carboxylase and glycosyl transferase. It also appears to be directly involved in the enzymic machinery of carbohydrates metabolism with a possible link to lipid metabolism. It is also essential for normal bone structure, reproduction and the normal functioning of central nervous system (Bhagi and Chatwal, 2003). Knowing the biological significance and uses of th is essential ultra trace metal, i t was determined spectrophotometerically in the various parts viz; stems, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers of the medicinal plant Sida spinosa Linn. The method used is simple, sensitive, selective and economical which is based on the oxidation of small amounts of manganese present in the drug either by potassium peroxide or ammonium persulphate. The former is usually preferred since it gives a true permanganate colour. Here manganese converts into potassium permanganate in acidic solution and absorbance for the colour thus obtained is compared with the concentration absorbance curve of the various dilutions of the standard solution, for calculating the concentration of manganese in the various parts of the plant understudy (Peach and Tracey, 1939). The concentration of manganese in the various parts of Sida spinosa thus calculated is 2.4 ppm in stems, 1.4 ppm in roots, 1.1 ppm in leaves, 3.7 ppm in seeds and 4.6 ppm in flowers.

Keywords

• Manganese
• Metallo-enzyme
• Oxidation
• Sida spinosa
• Spectrophotometric study