Determination of some chemical elements in Rosmarinus tournefortii de Noé using instrumental neutron activation analysis

• Rosmarinus tournefortii de Noé (Lamiaceae) is widely used in therapeutic usefulness.
• R. tournefotii has been analyzed using INAA.
• Leaves of this medicinal shrub contain K and Ca as dominant chemical elements.
• Present data can be used for future medicinal purposes.

Rosmarinus tournefortii de Noé often used in the Algerian traditional medicine was analyzed for 19 elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Cr, Cs, Co, Eu, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr and Zn) using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The samples were irradiated for a period of 6 h at a thermal neutron flux of 4.5 × 1013 cm−2 s−1, in the pneumatic tube facilities of Es-Salem research reactor of Birine (Djelfa). The precision and the accuracy of the results were evaluated by analyzing the certified reference material GBW 07605 (GSV-4) tea leaves. A good agreement has been achieved between the present results and recommended values. Leaves of this plant contain K and Ca as major chemical elements. The daily intake of toxic elements was determined, and compared with the recommended values. The probable cumulative intake of toxic elements is well below the tolerance limits.