Concentrations of heavy metals in three commonly used medicinal vegetables in Akwa- Ibom state
Keywords:
Heavy metals, Medicinal vegetables, Akwa Ibom, NigeriaAbstract
The concentrations of heavy metals were studied in three medicinal vegetables in Akwa- Ibom State. The plants used in this study were Gongronema latifolium; Telferia occidentalis and Vernonia amygdalina. The heavy metals investigated were lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe). Dry ashing methods were used in obtaining samples for heavy metal analysis. Quantities of the heavy metals were read off using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of the work showed variations in the concentrations of these metals which ranged from slightly low to high amounts, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn had high values, while Pb, Cd, Co, Cr and Ni had relatively low concentrations in the vegetables. The results of the findings are discussed.
References
Ajibade, S.R., Balogun, M.O., Afolabi, O.O., Kupolati, M.D., 2006. Sex differences in the biochemical contents of
Telfairia occidentalis Hook f. J. Food Agric. Environ. 4, 155-158.
Akoroda, M.O., 1990. Ethnobotany of Telfairia occidentalis among Igbos people in Nigeria. Econo. botan. 44 (1), 29
-39
Aleto, M.V.A. , Adeogun, O.A., 1995. Nutrient and anti-nutrient components of some tropical leafy vegetables.
Food Chemistry, 53, 375-379.
Anetor, J.I., Adeniyi, F.A., Taylor, G.O., 1999. Biochemical indicators of metabolic poisoning associated with lead
based occupations in nutritionally disadvantaged communities. Afr. J. Med. Med. Sci. 28, 9-12.
AOAC, 2003. Official methods of analysis of the association of official’s analytical chemists, 17th Edn. Association
of official analytical chemists, Arlinghton, Virginia. Pp 96-105.
Aregheore, E.M., 2007. Voluntary intake, nutrient digestibility and nutrient values of foliage of fluted pumkin
(Telfairia occidentalis)-haylage mixtures by goats. Livestock Res. Rural Dev. Vol. 19.
Arhoghro, E.M., Ekpo, K.E., Anosike, E.O., Ibeh, G.O., 2009. Effect of aqueous extract of bitter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina Del) on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced liver damage in albino wistar rats. Eur. J. Sci. Res. 26,
-123
Babalola, O.O., Anetor, J.I., Adeniyi, F., 2001. Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride –induced hepatotoxicity by
terpenoid extract from leaves of Vernonia amygdalina. Afri. J. Med. Sci. 30, 91-93.
Badifu, G.I., Akpapunam, M.A., Mgbemere, V.M., 1995. The fate of beta- carotene in processed leaves of fluted
pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis). A popular vegetable in Nigerian diet. Plant Food. Human Nutre, 48, 141-147.
Bonham, M., Jacqueline, M., Bernadette, M.H., Strain, J.J., 2002. The immune system as a physiological indicator of
marginal copper status? British J. Nutr. 87, 393–403.
Clemens, S., 2001. Molecular mechanisms of plant metal tolerance and homeostasis. Planta 212,475–486.
doi,10.1007/s004250000458.
Clemens, S., 2006. Toxic metal accumulation, responses to exposure and mechanisms of tolerance in plants.
Biochimie. 88, 1707-1719.
Daodu, M.O., Babayomi, O.J., 2009. Utilization of some edge-row plants as forage in Nigeria. Pak. J. Nutr. 8, 1269-
Diacono, M., Martemurro. F., 2010. Long term effects of organic amendment on soil fertility. A review. Agron. Sust.
Dev. 30, 401-422.
Djebali, W., Zarrouk, M., Brouquisse, R., El Kahoui, S., Limam, F., Ghorbel, M.H., Chaïbi, W., 2005. Ultrastructure
and lipid alterations induced by cadmium in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) chloroplast membranes. Plant
Biol. 7, 258-368.
Ejor, A.R., Tanja, A.N., Djuikno, N.A., Mbotung, C.M., 2008. Effect of Processing and Presentation method on
Vitamin C and total carotenoid levels of some Vernonia (bitter leaf) species. Afri. J. Food Agric. Nutr. Dev. 5,
-117.
Fagbemi, T.N., Eleyimi, A.F., Atun, Akpanbang, H.N., 2005. Nutritional composition of fermented fluted pumpkin
(Terfairia occidentalis) seeds for production of ogiri ugu. Proceedings of the IFT Annual Meeting P54B-2,
Session 54B, Fermented Food and Beverages. General.July 15-20, 2005, New Orleans , Lousiana.
Fleck, H. (1986). Introduction to Nutrition. 2nd Ed. New York. Macmillan Publishing Company Inc. Pp. 59-70.
Frossard, E., Bucher, M., Machler, F., Moeafar, A., Hurrell, R., 2000. Potential for increasing the content and
bioavailability of Fe, Zn and Ca in plants for human nutrition.
Gupta, N., Khan, D.K., Santra, S.C., 2010. Determination of public health hazard potential of waste water reuse in
crop production. World review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 7, 328-340.
Hwang, C.S., Rhie, G.E., Oh, J.H., Huh, W.K., Yim, H.S., Kang, S.O., 2002. Copper- and zinc-containing superoxide
dismutase (Cu/ ZnSOD) is required for the protection of Candida albicans against oxidative stresses and the
expression of its full virulence. Microbiol. 148(11), 3705–3713.
Kalk. W., 2005. Effects of production and processing factors on major fruit and vegetables anti oxidants. J. Food Sci.
(1), 11-19.
Kawashima, V.L.M., 2003. Mineral profile of raw and cooked leafy vegetables consumed in Southern Brazil. J. Food
Compo. Analy. 16, 605-611.
Kayode, A.A.A., Kayode, O.T., 2011. Some medicinal values of Telfairia occidentalis: A review. Am. J.
Biochem.Mol.Biol. 1, 30-38.
L´opez, M.L., Peralta-Videa, J.R., Parsons, J.G., Gardea- Torresdey, J.L., Duarte-Gardea, M., 2009. “Effect of indole-
-acetic acid, kinetin, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on plant growth and uptake and translocation of
lead, micronutrients, and macronutrients in alfalfa plants,” Inter. J. Phytoremed. 11(2), 131– 149.
Morebise, O., Fafunso, M.A., Makinde, J.M., Olajide, O.A., Awe, E.O., 2002. Anti-inflammatory property of the
leaves of Gongronema latifolium. Phytothera Res. 16, S75-S77.
Nkang, A.D., Omokaro, A., Egbe, G., Amanke, 2003. Variations in fatty acid proportions during dessication of
Telfairia occidentalis seeds harvested at physiological and agronomic. Afr. J. Biotecnol. 2, 33-39.
Nwachukwu, C.U., Umeh, C.N., Kalu, I.G., Okere, S., Nwoko, M., 2010. Identification and traditional uses of some
common medicinal plants in Ezinihitte Mbaaise L. G.A., of Imo State, Nigeria. Report and Opinion, pp, 1-8.
Nwachukwu, C.U., Uneh, C.N., Kalu, I.G., Okere, S., Nwoke, 2010. Identification and traditional uses of some
common medicinal plants in Ezinihitte Mbaise L. G.A of Imo State Nigeria. Report and Opinion pp, 1-8
Nwoboshi, L.C., 2000. The Nutrient factor in sustainable forestry. Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, 287p.
Oguntona, T., Oguntona, C.R.B., 1986. Proximate Composition of three leafy vegetables commonly used in
Northeastern Nigeria. Paper presented at the 1st national workshop of food composition, 1-5 April, 1986,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Okigbe, U.D., 1983. Mineral Composition of Leafy Vegetables. 2nd Edition, London Benedict Lust Publication group
Ltd. Pp. 87-90.
Rice, D., Robinson, J.P., Sprague, A.C., 1986. Tropical Vegetables. 4th Edition, London Edward Arnold Publishing Ltd.
P. 102.
Sanchez- Machado, D.I., Nunez-Gastelum, J.I., Reyes-Moreno, C., Ramirez-Wong, B., Lopez-Cervantes, J., 2010.
Nutritional quality of edible parts of Moringa oleifera. Food. Anal. Meth. 3, 175-180.
Treshaw, M. (1978).Terrestrial plants and communities. Principles of Ecotoxicological Scope, p.12.
Ugochukwu, N.H., Babady, N.E., 2002. Antioxidant effects of Gongronema latifolium in hepatocytes insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus. Fitotherapia, 73, (7-8), 612-618.
Ugochukwu, N.H., Babady, N.E., 2003. Anti-hypoglysemic effect of aqueous and ethanol extract of Gongronema
latifolium leaves on glucose and glycogen metabolism in livers of normal and streptozotocin rats J. Life Sci. 73
(15), 1925-1938.
Wei, J., Theil, E.C., Identification and characterization of the iron regulatory element in the ferritin gene of a plant
(soybean). J. Biolog. Chem. 275, 17488- 17493.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2012 F. O. Ogbemudia, I. N. Bassey, O. Kekere, E. D. Udo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.