Objective: To establish an atomic absorption spectrometry method for determination of the contents of metal elements in Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and analyze 21 batches of samples from different areas.
Methods: Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Zn and Cu were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydrogen flame detector, Pb, As and Cd were detected by graphite furnace atomic absorption, Hg was detected by cold atomic absorption.
Results: The heavy metal contents met the requirement of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The contents of K, Mg, Cu and Mn in the samples of geo-authentic areas were higher,while the contents of Fe, Zn, Hg and Pb in the samples of non-authentic areas were higher.
Conclusion: This method is sample, accurate, repeatable and could be used to evaluate the quality of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix.