PJB-2020-97
Contamination and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in medicinal plants of district Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Maria Shahnaz, Bushra Khan, Sardar Khan, Javaid Iqbal, Ishaq Ahmad Mian and Mamoona Wali Muhammad
Abstract
Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals (HMs) has gained more attention in recent decades due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and potentially toxic effects. This study was aimed to determine the heavy metals in soil and medicinal plant species sampled from District Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The concentrations of HMs i.e. Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Nickle (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) were measured in the soil (n =31) and medicinal plants (n= 31), by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Levels of HMs were used to estimate bioaccumulation factor (BAF). Mean concentrations of HMs in medicinal plants were 0.05 mg kg-1, 0.88 mg kg-1, 0.30 mg kg-1, 0.43 mg kg-1 and 10.71 mg kg-1 for Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn respectively. The concentration of Cd (24 medicinal plant species) and Cr (6 species medicinal plant species) were above the permissible limits of World Health Organization (WHO) respectively. The highest mean Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) value was found for Mirabilis jalapa, Sagretia thea, Zenthoxylum armantum, Ajuga bracteosa, and Otostegia limbata medicinal plant species. The bioaccumulation of HMs was in the order of root>shoot>leaves. While in the soil the mean concentrations of the selected HMs were in the order of Zn>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. In the conclusion the contamination in medicinal plants may contribute significantly to the exposure and health risks of the population. From the current study it is recommended that the medicinal plants should be tested for toxic heavy metals before use
To Cite this article:
Shahnaz, M., B. Khan, S. Khan, J. Iqbal, I.A. Mian and M.W. Muhammad. 2021. Contamination and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in medicinal plants of district Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 53(6): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-6(43)
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