ABSTRACT
Effects of heavy metals on the Air Pollution Tolerance Indices (APTI) of five
medicinal plants growing within quarry site in Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
were studied. Following laboratory analysis of the leaves of the plants for metal
load and four biochemical parameters of APTI computation. The metal load was
determined by the Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric method, while the
ascorbic acid was determined by the titremetric method, leaf extract pH by the
electro-chemical techniques, relative water content by plant turgidity mass and
the total chlorophyll, by spectrophotometric method. Foliar photomicrography
of the leaf was also studied. Results of Plants from experimental site showed
changes in physical and internal structures of the leaves that lead to closure of
some stomata pores in test plants and damage of some epicelluler cells.
Quantification of phytochemical contents of the test plants showed higher
values than that of control which may be due to the multiplication of some
organic substances caused by oxidative stress, presence of inorganic subtances
like heavy metals and lime stone dust.The result of elemental analysis of both
experimental and control plants gave the range of concentration of the metals
in parts per million (ppm) as follows: - lead ( 2.75 – 14.13 ± 0.02); Nickle
(0.27 - 0.54 ± 0.01) ; Cadmium ( 2.25 - 24.30 ± 0.03); Zinc (0.11- 0.03 ±
0.02); and Arsenic (0.10 - 0.70 ± 0.04). Control –Lead ( 0.00 – 5.52 ± 0.01);
Nickle (0.13 – 0.23 ± 0.01); Cadmium (0.00 - 12.00 ± 0.03); Zinc ( 0.06 – 0.10
± 0.03); and Arsenic (0.02 – 0.20 ± 0.02). There was slight increase of
Cadmium above maximum daily permissible intake in C. ferruginea, A,
djalonensis, and R. communis, also there is high content of Arsenic in
R.communis which is the cause of oxidative strees in test plants that result in
the elicitation of antioxidants from plants and multiplication of ascorbic acid
content. The values for the percentage computation of APTI in test plants are
V.doniana (11.03), C.ferruginea (7.62), A.djalonesis (9.94), R. communis (11.5)
and M. esculenta (8.60). Control pants gave V.doniana (11.86), C.ferruginea
(8.21), A.djalonesis (11.86), R. communis (14.39), and M. esculenta (10.21)
that result in reduction of Relative water content, Ph value, Total chlorophyll
content and Ascorbic acid content.There is relative high content of heavy
metals, physiological and visible changes in some sensitive test plants. Owing
to information gotten from the result of this research it is not recommended that
plants from the quarry sites be used in herbal formulation because of possible
metal intoxication and attenuation of their phythopotency.
NGOZI, U (2021). Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-2
NGOZI, UGWU "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria." Afribary. Afribary, 20 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-2. Accessed 07 Sep. 2024.
NGOZI, UGWU . "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.". Afribary, Afribary, 20 May. 2021. Web. 07 Sep. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-2 >.
NGOZI, UGWU . "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria." Afribary (2021). Accessed September 07, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-2