Application of INAA technique for analysis of essential trace and toxic elements in medicinal seeds of Carum carvi L. & Foeniculum vul-gare Mill. used in Algeria

Traditional medicinal seeds such as caraway “Carum carvi L.” and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. commonly called fennel have been largely used since several centuries for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Additionally, it is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers. The Algerian neutron activation analysis laboratory is highly involved in nutrition applications in the framework of research activities using the Es-Salam research reactor. The objective of this work is to contribute by using nuclear analytical techniques, for studying a large number of natural food samples consumed in Algeria related to nutrition and human health. The present study focuses on the analysis of the seeds of caraway and fennel used in our country by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique. Twenty-seven elements were assessed (As, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Hf, La, Mo, Lu, Nd, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Tb, Yb, Th, Ba, Br, Rb, Sr, Zn, Ca, K, Na and Fe) and the accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing the Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). The daily intake of essential and toxic elements was determined and compared with the recommended values and was found to be well below the tolerance limits.