International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231-606X 11 1 2021 02 18 Metallic contamination of medicinal plants as consequences of soil pollution 30 33 EN Sandala Anuradhabai 1 S.N.Vanita Pharmacy Mahavidyalaya, Tarnaka, Hyderabad-500007, Telangana, India Yasaswi P. Soma 2 S.N.Vanita Pharmacy Mahavidyalaya, Tarnaka, Hyderabad-500007, Telangana, India Ravindernath A. 3 Faculty of Pharmacy, Osmania University, Hyderabad- 500007 Telangana, India Patnaik K.S.K. Rao 4 Department of Chemical Engineering, Dire Dawa Institute of Technology, P.box.1362, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia Elnaeim Omar E.B. 1 Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Education University of Al-Butana, Rufaa, Sudan Ragab Yousif Ali 2 Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira, Medani, Sudan Vanjeri Vinayak N. 1 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Goudar Naganagouda 2 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Hiremani Vishram 3 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Gasti Tilak 4 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Sataraddi Sarala P. 5 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Masti Saraswati P. 6 Department of Chemistry, Karnatak Science College, Dharwad - 580 001, India Chougale Ravindra B. 7 P G Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad - 580 003, India Onuorah Nnamani Johnson 1 Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria Agbidye I.G 2 Department of Chemistry, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria Dominique CHODATON-ZINSOU Marthe 1 Laboratoire de pharmacognosie et des huiles essentielles, Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN Arnaud ASSOGBA 2 Laboratoire de surveillance environnemental de la Direction Generale de l’Environnementet du Climat du Ministère de Cadre de Vie et du Developpement Durable, BENIN Jacques KOUAZOUNDE 3 Laboratoire de Chimie inorganique et Environnement (LaCIE), Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN Fidèle ASSOGBA M. 4 Laboratoire de pharmacognosie et des huiles essentielles, Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN Fernand GBAGUIDI 5 Laboratoire de pharmacognosie et des huiles essentielles, Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN Joachim GBENOU 6 Laboratoire de pharmacognosie et des huiles essentielles, Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN Daouda MAMA 7 Laboratoire d’Hydrologie Appliquee, Institut National de l’Eau, Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, BENIN > Research Paper 2020 8 28 2021 02 18 Medicinal plants used by populations are harvested in the environment subjected to contamination by pollutants including heavy metals, toxic to humans. The objective of this research is to assess contamination of 5 medicinal plants commonly used in Benin by mercury and growing sometimes in areas at risk of mercuric contamination. Material plant studied included Croton lobatus, Hemizygia bracteosa, Desmodium velutinum leaves and Cissampelos owariensis and Calyptrochilum christyanum aerial parts. These plants, as well as soils on which they are established, were collected, respectively in Abomey-Calavi, Savalou, Abomey for the 3 first plants and Avrankou for the 2 last. Direct Mercury Analyser (DMA 80 TRICELL) was used to quantify mercury in dry plant powders and dried soil grains. The results obtained reveal mercury’s presence in all plants and soils samples. Mercury concentration varies between 18.36 and 133.54µg/kg in soils and between 20.45 and 89.13µg/kg in leaves. Soil concentrations are below threshold value of 1mg/kg. Plants have been shown to accumulate mercury, or even very accumulative for Croton lobatus and Desmodium velutium. This study shows that harvesting medicinal plants on soils contaminated by heavy metal is a risk for human health. Copyright@ International Science Community Association