Utilization of k0-standardisation method of neutron activation analysis for determining the major and trace elements of medicinal plants from the Senhaja Srair region of Morocco

The main objective of this work was to study how the k(0)-standardisation method of neutron activation analysis performs when applied to Moroccan medicinal plant samples. Irradiation was carried out at the Moroccan Triga Mark II research reactor at CNESTEN. Standard references material from NIST and WEPAL were used for internal quality control, mainly to ensure accuracy and precision measurement. More than twenty elements were determined in eight medicinal plants analysed. Mg, K, Ca, Cl, Na were observed as major in high concentrations while rare earth elements and toxic elements were found as traces elements. The results obtained in this study allowed these plants to be classified according to their composition of trace elements, macro-elements, rare earth elements and toxic elements.