Abstract: A method based on microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)detection was established for the determination of eight soluble elements,including Cr,As,Se,Cd,Sb,Ba,Hg,Pb,in Paeonia ostii White and Paeonia ostii Pink.The samples were dissolved in HNO₃ by microwave digestion,then the above 8 elements were simultaneously detected by ICP-MS.The results showed that the contents of eight soluble elements in P.ostii White were higher than that of P.ostii Pink.The results were evaluated by analyzing the Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods(GB2762-2005),the indicators of two P.ostii flowers were generally higher than the limits of fruits and the leafy vegetables;compared with the standard limits of the only harmful element Pb in tea,the contents of Pb in two P.ostii flowers were much lower than the limits of tea.The results of this study showed that P.ostii flowers can be used as a tea for drinking,but it has certain limitations being a kind of food.The recovery rates of the studied elements were in the range of 92.25%-106.75%,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs)of the method were in the range of 1.3%~4.8%.The experimental results showed that the developed ICP-MS method was precise and reliable.

Key words: Paeonia ostii, microwave digestion, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, soluble element