Bioaccumulation of lead in the medicinal plant Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth
2009
Belonias, B.S., Visayas State Univ., Baybay, Leyte (Philippines). Dept. of Biological Sciences
To prevent the side effects of synthetic drugs, many people turn to herbal plants because these are believed to be safe being natural products. However, there is now a growing concern on the use of medicinal plants and preparations made from them because of reports that some species absorb large quantities of heavy metals like lead which accumulate in the body and could lead to heavy metal poisoning. This greenhouse study was conducted with the following objectives: 1) to determine the Pb absorptive capacity of the widely-used medicinal plant Peperomea pellucida, 2) to identify lead accumulation in its tissues, and 3) to assess the growth response of the plant to elevated levels of Pb. All the Pb-treated plants and the control showed comparably uniform vigorous growth during the 3-week experimental period. Application of 100-400 ppm Pb had no significant effect on shoot and root growth. Total lead absorbed by the plants and total lead retained in the soil after harvest were significantly affected by the level of lead applied to the soil. The amount of lead in the soil and in the plant tissue increased with the increase in Pb applied. About 50% or more of the lead applied to the soil was present in the plant tissues. Based on the results, P. pellucida can tolerate Pb levels as high as 400 ppm without affecting its growth.
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