Cu, Zn, and Se were successfully determined in a few microliters (<100 μl) of biological samples using discrete injection atomic absorption spectrometry. Different factors were investigated in order to obtain a biological sample volume which is valid for analysis. Among them are the effect of microsampling volume variations (starting from 40 to 200 μl), nebulization efficiency, detection limits, precision, and finally the calibration and sensitivity of the proposed method. It was found that 60 μl of the biological sample was adequate for the quantitative analysis with reasonable precision. The advantages of the proposed method are not only rapidity, simplicity, sensitivity, and good precision, but also, contrary to conventional flame atomic absorption spectrometry, the capability of analyzing microvolumes of samples.Introduction. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is considered a simple, inexpensive, and easy to use technique. Furthermore, it has little interference impact as compared with other spectroscopic techniques. With a certain care in both the optimization of the flame parameters and sample preparation, good and satisfactory results can be obtained. The main limitations of FAAS are high detection limits and a high rate of sample consumption. This means that the use of FAAS is not suitable for the determination of elements in microvolume samples such as biological ones. The determination of trace elements in microsamples by atomic absorption spectrometry can be carried out using a graphite furnace (GF-AAS), but the procedures seem to be slow and more costly. In the determination of zinc (Zn), the problems of contamination prohibit the use of the graphite furnace [1]. A discrete injection (DI) procedure introduced by Sebastiani et al.[2] seems to be the most convenient for the biological samples. Later on, the DI technique was upgraded and applied in combination with atomic absorption spectrometry [3,4]. The DI procedure is based on injecting exactly measured volumes into a small Teflon cup connected to a nebulizer of the AAS instrument. The obtained absorbency peaks are reproducible for each volume injected and proportional to the concentration. The DI device is a pulsed suction system completely different from conventional nebulizer types in which the liquid is continually aspired. The DI technique is found in the literature as a recommended procedure for the determination of Cu and Zn in biological samples, especially in blood serum [5][6][7][8]. Since serum samples are obtainable in limited volumes, a specific DI-AAS has been used for the introduction of microsamples, and the quantitative analysis of Cu and Zn was carried out for the available biological samples. In the present work, blood samples were collected from a group of adult virgin rats (Rattus rattus) and centrifuged. The serum samples are diluted five times with double distilled water prior to injecting into the DI system. A home-made microsampling cup of the DI system has been constructed from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) [9]. Th...
The study had been planned to evaluate some antioxidant ingredients in honey and propolis. Also, a study on ionizing gamma irradiated rats was done to assess these antioxidants as radioprotectors. Bioactive ingredients, such as phenols, flavonoids and trace elements, were explored using FTIR, UV-Vis and AAS spectroscopic techniques. Animals were exposed to fractionated gamma radiation doses. Honey, propolis and their combination were administrated before and during the irradiation period. Serum levels of total protein, albumin and uric acid were estimated. Also, the osmotic fragility of Red Blood Corpuscles (RBCs) membranes and a microscopic examination of blood films were investigated. The analysis demonstrated that the level of phenolic, flavonoid and trace elements are higher in propolis than honey. The levels of total protein and albumin decreased post irradiation while the level of uric acid increased. Likewise, osmotic fragility of RBCs membranes was increased with a sticking forming RBCs aggregation. It had been found that administration of the natural antioxidants induced amelioration in most of the studied parameters. It can be concluded that natural antioxidants produced a modulation against oxidative stress induced by ionizing radiation.Summary StatementAssessment of some antioxidant ingredients in honey and propolis. Also, a study on ionizing gamma irradiated rats was done to assess these antioxidants as radioprotectors.
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