Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation of toxic metals in Scirpus californicus from natural wetlands in the Central Andes of Peru

Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation levels of lead, zinc, iron and arsenic in Scirpus californicus of the Paca and Tragadero Lagoons, Jauja, Peru, were evaluated. Water, sediment and Scirpus californicus samples were collected from each lagoon, which were transported to the laboratory for the analytical determination of lead, iron, zinc and arsenic, which was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry based on the methodology recommended by FAO. The results obtained reveal the current status of the quality of the aquatic environment of natural wetlands in the central region of Peru in terms of heavy metals and arsenic, which provide an important source of water for the populations of large cities in the central region of Peru. The presence of heavy metals and arsenic with great impact on the quality of these water bodies may be due to the pressure exerted by anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, industrial and domestic wastewater. The sediments of Paca and Tragadero Lagoons showed high concentrations of Fe, exceeding international standards. Aquatic vegetation represented by Scirpus californicus in both lagoons bio accumulated mainly Zn, without exceeding international standards.

Limits for the Content of Heavy Metals and Arsenic as a Means of Ensuring Safe Use of Herbal Medicinal Products

Herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are widely used in medical practice due to their availability, ease of use, and relatively safe pharmacological profile. However, medicinal plants are capable of accumulating heavy metals and arsenic which can have toxic effect on the human body when found in HMPs. The aim of the study was to summarise and analyse requirements of the Russian and foreign pharmacopoeias for the limits of heavy metals and arsenic in HMPs. National and regional pharmacopoeias have limits for the content of the major toxic elements (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and arsenic) in HMPs. The study showed that the Indian and Japanese pharmacopoeias include only semi-quantitative methods for determination of heavy metals and arsenic, while the Russian and Chinese pharmacopoeias allow for the use of both quantitative and semi-quantitative methods. It was demonstrated that the limits for heavy metals and arsenic are the same for herbal substances and HMPs. The development of consistent approaches to determination of heavy metals and arsenic content, a systematic transition to quantitative methods of analysis, and establishment of individual limits for toxic elements in different HMP dosage forms, will make it possible to achieve the so-called consistent harmonisation, ensure reliable assessment of the content of heavy metals and arsenic, and minimize the risk of their entering human body with HMPs.

Accumulation of heavy metals and arsenic in grass leonurus quinquelobatum gilib

Annotation. The Voronezh region is traditionally the most important area of crop production and farming. The purpose of the study was to study the contamination by heavy metals of medicinal vegetable raw materials of the Voronezh region on the example of the grass of the five-plant desert collected in urban and agro-ecological systems, which experience different anthropogenic effects. The accumulations of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic were studied, in 51 samples of five-layer desert grass. Comparing the data on heavy metal content in the upper soil layers of the region and the content of these elements in the grass of the five-layer desert, it can be assumed that there are significant physiological barriers to the accumulation of ecotoxicants in the generative organs of the plant, which is particularly noticeable for elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt and chromium. The five-point desert is able to selectively concentrate some heavy metals entering the active centers of enzyme systems (such as copper and zinc) if their environmental content is below some vital level; With a significant content of these elements in soils, the plant also physiologically blocked their entry into the leaves. Thus, for a five-layer desert under anthropogenic load conditions, an edaphotype is formed as a result of the action of selection under conditions of man-made pollution of the external environment and the manifestation of adaptation to these conditions. The results of studies have shown that the grass of the five-plant desert is able to accumulate toxic elements from soils, which is important in planning the places of production of medicinal vegetable raw materials and assessing its quality.