HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2012 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 9 | Page No.: 855-859
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2012.855.859
Heavy Metals Content of Some Medicinal Plants from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
F. Mtunzi, E. Muleya, J. Modise, A. Sipamla and E. Dikio

Abstract: Trace metals in eight different plants commonly available in South Africa, Kwazulu-Natal Province namely Gunnera perpensa, Pentanisia prunelloides, Carissa bispinosa, Ledebouria revoluta, Pomaria sandersonii, Eucomis autumnalis, Alepidea amatymbica, Artemisia afra and Berkheya setifera have been quantitatively analyzed using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. Medicinal plants were disinfected with 0.1% HgCl2 and digested with 95% H2SO4 and 35% H2O2. Six heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn) were chosen on the basis of their effects on human health. From the results of the study, all six heavy metals were present in all the plants, except that Pb was not detected in six of the plants. The highest level of Fe was observed in Gunnera perpensa at 1.12±0.003 ppm whilst the lowest level was found in Alepidea amatymbica at 0.0001±0.00 ppm±0.0005. The concentrations of Mn, Pb, Ni and Zn were all less than 1.5 ppm and the lead concentration in the water extract of Berkheya setifera was found to be high at 5.74±0.110 ppm but still falls below permissible limit of 10 ppm. The concentration of Cu was found to be 1.36±0.0021 ppm in Pomaria sandersonii and lowest in Gunnera perpensa at 1.24±0.002 ppm. The findings generally suggest that the use of these plant species for controlling diseases will not cause heavy metal toxicity and can be of good use to the users in cases of micronutrient deficiency.

Fulltext PDF

How to cite this article
F. Mtunzi, E. Muleya, J. Modise, A. Sipamla and E. Dikio, 2012. Heavy Metals Content of Some Medicinal Plants from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 11: 855-859.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, heavy metals and spectrophotometer

REFERENCES

  • Abad, M.J., M. Ansuategui and P. Bermejo, 2007. Active antifungal substances from natural sources. ARKIVOC, 7: 116-145.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    


  • Ajasa, A.M.O., M.O. Bello, A.O. Ibrahim, I.A. Ogunwande and N.O. Olawore, 2004. Heavy trace metals and macronutrients status in herbal plants of Nigeria. Food Chem., 85: 67-71.
    CrossRef    


  • Aliyu, A.B., A.M. Musa, J.A. Oshanimi, H.A. Ibrahim and A.O. Oyewale, 2008. Phytochemical analyses and mineral elements composition of some medicinal plants of northern Nigeria. Nig. J. Pharma. Sci., 7: 119-125.
    Direct Link    


  • Ashraf, M., M.Q. Hayat and A.S. Mumtaz, 2010. A study on elemental contents of medicinally important species of Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) found in Pakistan. J. Med.Plants Res., 4: 2256-2263.
    Direct Link    


  • Cunningham, J.J., 1998. Micronutrients as nutriceutical interventions in diabetes mellitus. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., 17: 7-10.
    CrossRef    


  • FAO/WHO, 1984. Contaminants. In: Codex Alimentarius, FAO/WHO (Ed.). 1st Edn. Codex Alimentarius Commision, Rome, Italy


  • Hayes, R.B., 1997. The carcinogenicity of metals in humans. Cancer Causes Control, 8: 371-385.
    CrossRef    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Hussain, I., M. Khattak, K. Khan, I. Rehman, F. Khan and U. Khan, 2011. Analysis of heavy metals in selected medicinal plants from Dir, Swat and Peshawar districts of Khyber Pakhtunkwa. J. Chem. Soc. Pak., 33: 495-498.


  • Hussain, I. and H. Khan, 2010. Investigation of heavy metals content in medicinal plant, Eclipta alba L. J. Chem. Soc. Pak., 32: 28-33.
    Direct Link    


  • Kastori, R. and N. Petrivic, 1993. Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants. In: Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Soil [In English], Kastori, R. (Ed.). Faculty of Agriculture-Institute for Field and Vegetables Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia, pp: 55-72


  • Khan, S.A., L. Khan, I. Hussain, K.B. Marwat and N. Akhtar, 2008. Profile of heavy metals in selected medicinal plants. Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res., 14: 101-110.
    Direct Link    


  • Khan, M.A., I. Ahmad and I. Ur Rahman, 2007. Effect of environmental pollution on heavy metals content of Withania somnifera. J. Chin. Chem. Soc., 54: 339-343.
    Direct Link    


  • Kirmani, M.Z., S. Mohiuddin, F. Naz, I.I. Naqri and E. Zahir, 2011. Determination of some toxic and essential trace metals in some medicinal and edible plants of Karachi city. J. Basic Applied Sci., 7: 89-95.
    Direct Link    


  • NRC, 1994. Nutrient Requirement of Domestic Animals. In: Nutrient Requirement for Beef Cattle, NRC (Ed.). 6th Rev. Edn., Vol. 4. National Academy of Science, Washington, DC., USA., pp: 421-427


  • Pendias, A. and H. Pendias, 1992. Trace Elements in Soil and Plants. 2nd Edn., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., Pages: 365


  • Roussel, A.M., A. Kerkeni, N. Zouari, S. Mahjoub, J.M. Matheau and R.A. Anderson, 2003. Antioxidant effects of zinc supplementation in Tunisians with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., 22: 316-321.
    Direct Link    


  • Sanjay, N., M.M. Tiwari and A. Chauhan, 2010. Elementals profile of some important medicinal plants of Uttarakhand State, India. Rep. Opin., 2: 34-36.
    Direct Link    


  • Sharma, R.K., M. Agrawal and F.M. Marshall, 2009. Heavy metals in vegetables collected from production and market sites of a tropical urban area of India. Food Chem. Toxicol., 47: 583-591.
    CrossRef    


  • Watt, J.M. and M.G. Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 2nd Edn., E and S Liningstone Ltd., London, UK., Pages: 1457


  • WHO, 2007. Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants. Vol. 1-3, WHO Press, Geneva, Switzerland


  • WHO, 2003. WHO Guidelines on Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for Medicinal Plants WHO., Geneva, Austria, pp: 1-2


  • WHO., 1992. Cadmium, Environmental Health Criteria, Vol. 134. International Progress in Chemical Safety, WHO, Geneva


  • WHO, 1998. Quality Control Methods for Medicinal Plant Materials. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, ISBN-13: 9789241545105, Pages: 115

  • © Science Alert. All Rights Reserved