Effect of heavy metals on the features of medicinal plants at a quarrying site, in Ishi-Agu Ebonyi state Nigeria

Ugwu Patience Ugwu Patience; Inyagha Stella Inyagha Stella; Udodeme Helen Udodeme Helen; Diovu Edith Diovu Edith

Ugwu Patience Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Inyagha Stella Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Udodeme Helen Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Diovu Edith Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka

Abstract

Objective: This work intended to determine the concentration of heavy metal in the leaves and its effect on the medicinal plants studied.

Methods: Five different medicinal plants (Vitex doniana, Cnestis ferruginea, Anthocleista djalonensis, Ricinus communis and Manihot esculenta) from polluted and unpolluted areas were studied to determine the effects of heavy metal pollution on their physical and anatomical features. Morphological features of the plants were examined using a planimetric method. Leaves foliar properties studied using photomicroscope and the metal load was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results: Leaves from the polluted site showed more affected features phenotypically than the control. Under elemental analysis, lead concentration at the polluted site ranges from 2.75 in V. doniana to 14.13 ppm in R. communis; nickel, 0.27 in R. communis to 0.5 ppm in M. esculenta, cadmium, 2.25 in V. doniana to 24.3 ppm in A. djalonensis, zinc, 0.16 in A. djalonesis to 1.58 ppm in M. esculenta and arsenic, 0.1 in R. communis to 0.7 ppm in C. ferruginea and 0.11 ppm in M. esculenta. In contrast at the control site, lead ranges from 0.00 in V. doniana and C. ferruginea to 5.52 ppm in R. communis, nickle, 0.13 in C. ferruginea to 0.21 ppm in R. communis, cadmium 0.00 in V. doniana to C. ferruginea 12.0 ppm, zinc 0.06 in R. communis to 0.16 ppm in V. doniana and arsenic 0.01 in M. esculenta to 0.52 ppm in C. ferruginea.

Conclusion: Only lead, cadmium and arsenic concentration in some plants were higher than the toxic concentration levels of their dry plants matters.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Leaf anatomy, Pollution, Medicinal plants, Quarry

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Annan K, Kojo AI, Cindy A, Samuel AN, Tunkumgnen BM. Profile of heavy metals in some medicinal plants from Ghana commonly used as components of herbal formulation. Pharmacognosy Res 2010; 2: 41-44.
2. Choudhury P, Banerjee D. Biomonitoring of air quality in the industrial town of Asanol using the air pollution Tolerance Index Approach. Res J Chem Environ 2009; 13: 46-51.
3. Dhar RK, Zheng Y, Rubenstone J, Geen AV. A rapid colorimetric method for measuring arsenic concentrations in ground water. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2004; 526: 203-209.nickel on antioxidative enzyme activities, proline and chlorophyll contents in wheat shoots. Biologia Plantarum 2006; 50:653-659.
7. Jankiewiez B, Ptarzynsk B, Wiezorak M. Spectrophotometric determination of cadium II in the soil of allotment gardens in lodz. Pol J Environ Stud 2000; 9: 83-86.
8. Jankiewicz B, Ptarzynski B, Wieczok M. Spectrophotometric determination of lead in the soil of allotment gardens in lodz. Pol J Environ Stud 2001; 10: 123-126.
9. Khan SA, Khan L, Hussian I, Marwat KB, Akhtar N. Profile of heavy metals in selected medicinal plants. Pak J Weed Sci Res 2008; 14: 101-110.
10. Nzekwe U. Studies on some aspect of the biology and ecology of Irvirigia gabonensis Var, excelsa. Ph.D.Thesis Dept. of Botany, University of Nigeria Nsukka 2002.
11. WHO. Evaluation of certain food and contaminants. Technical report sence; 1989: 776.
12. Shar GA, Bharnger MI. Spectroscopic determination of zinc with dithizonein anionic micellar of media of dodecyl sulphate salt. Chem Soc Pakistan Hej Res 2001; 2: 804-806.
13. Tiwari S, Agrawal , Marshall FM. Evaluation of ambient airpollution impact on carrot plant on a suburban site using open top chambers. Environ Monit Assess 2006; 119; 15-30.
4. Evans WC. Text book of pharmacognosy, 16th ed. China: Elsevier limited: China 2009.
5. Fordham MC, Harrison MR, Knight L, Evered CE. Effects of leaf wetting and high humidity on stomatal function in leafy cuttings and intact plants of Corylus maxima. Physio Planta 2001; 13: 233-240.
6. Gajewska E, Sklodowska M, Slaba M, Mazur J. Effect of