Assessment of Metal Accumulation in Medicinal Plants and Their Soil in District Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The current study was carried out to investigate the physiochemical, major elements such as Na, K Ca, Mg and heavy metals like Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, and Mn in medicinal plants and their soil of district Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan. The five plant samples were collected from the study area and divided into five different parts such as root, stem, leaf, seed, and flower. Five soil samples were collected from the same location at a 90 cm deep ditch. Samples were prepared using acid digestion and analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). The multivariate statistical analysis correlation coefficient principle component analysis, cluster diagram, and Piper diagram were drawn for better interpretation of the data. The results of Na, K, Mg, and Ca in plants varied from 368 to 2,480 mg/Kg, 866 to 1,349, 455 to 1,530 and 1,840 to 17,360 mg/Kg and heavy metals varied Fe 10.96 to 1,115.2, Mn 0-59.04, Cu 0-68.4, Cr 0-7.68, Pb 0.32-25.28, Zn 0.0-56.28, Ni 0.88-8.40 mg/Kg. The trace element values vary from plant to plant and also vary in their parts. The correlation and principle component analysis indicated major parameters are good positive loading for each other and the Piper diagram indicated calcium is a predominance cation. The present study compares the major and trace metals in medicinal plant and their soil. The physiochemical results of the soil samples indicated different values from place to place due to the soil quality varied from location to location.