Abstract

ANALYSIS OF MINERAL CONTENT AND SOME HEAVY METALS OF HONEY SAMPLES PRODUCED AND MARKETED IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA: A PREREQUISITE TO FOMULATING A PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Obarisiagbon Aiwaguore Johnbull*, Ahunun Frances, Awonyemi Olatunde Isaac, Azubuike Chiamaka Cynthia

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at detecting the levels of 11 elements; Zinc, Nickel, Iron, Copper, Calcium, Manganese, Lead, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Phosphorus in the different honey samples collected from three zonal regions in Imo State, Nigeria. These regions have diverse geographical and environmental characteristics, great deposits of mineral composition of soil, which are capable of being absorbed in plants. The following materials were used – 1gm of each honey sample, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vessel, Fossdigestor, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Schimadzu 1800 double beam UV-visible spectrophotometer, Viscometer ndj-5s model for viscosity test and appropriate reagents required for the analysis. To determine the heavy metals, the honey samples were prepared by weighing 1gm of each sample in PTFE vessels and dissolving same in 10 ml concentrated nitric acid (HNO3). They were then digested using fossdigestor at 400oC. The mixture was made up to 100 ml and the digest was them analyzed for metallic elements using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained for the honey samples 1 – 6 were: Zinc – 53, 46, 88, 53, 66, 31 (mg/kg); Nickel was not detected in all the samples. Iron –10600, 256, 748, 124, 234 and 256 (mg/kg); Copper – 4, 1, 6, 20, 3 (mg/kg) for samples 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6: while copper was not detected in sample 4. Calcium – 455, 784, 351, 509, 208 and 248 mg/kg; Manganese – 11, 7, 10, 4, 7 and 7 mg/kg; Lead was not detected from any of the samples; Magnesium – 210, 212, 206,209, 207, 207 (mg/kg); Sodium – 667, 588, 843, 764, 2720, 686 (mg/kg); Potassium – 1420, 1011, 1011, 801, 1097, 1097 (mg/kg); Phosphorus – 142, 138, 137, 123, 139, 127 (mg/100 g). Viscosity values were 2000, 20090, 20040, 20100, 20140, 20060 (mpas). The results show that some heavy metals were either not detected or were absent in one or two of the honey samples. Values of some heavy metals in were either below limits of detection or above limit. This could be due to the diverse geographical and environmental and mineral soil compositions where the samples were collected. All the honey samples can be adjudged suitable for consumption.

Keywords: Honey, Heavy metals, fossdigestor, Zinc.