Pollution Based Study of Heavy Metals in Some Selected Medicinal Plants by Dry Digestion Method

Study of heavy metals including Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Manganese( Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) in four selected medicinal plants Capparis spinosa, Peganum harmala , Rhazya stricta and Tamarix articulata collected from polluted and unpolluted areas of Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Dry Ashingmethod was adopted for sample preparation. In general the concentration level of heavy metals in the selected plants from polluted area was found to decrease in the order of Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu >Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd, and the same order was also found in unpolluted area. In polluted area Iron was found high 48.76 mg/kg in leaves ofCapparis spinosa while least level (Below detection level) was that of Cadmium and in unpolluted area the level of iron was high 54.94 mg/kg in roots of Rhazya stricta while least concentration was that of Cd 0.02 mg/kg in leaves of Peganum harmala. These medicinal plants were selected for our investigation having in mind their extensive use in traditional medicine for various ailments by local physicians in the area from where these plants were collected. Monitoring such medicinal plants for heavy metals is a supreme importance in protecting the Public from the adverse and hazardous affects of these heavy metals.