Abstract
Garlic is one of the most widely used medicinal plants. The monitoring of toxic metals such as lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper and Zinc in garlic and the soil of garlic fields collected from ten different cities of Punjab is critical for preventing public health against the hazards of metal toxicity. The levels of toxic heavy metals in garlic and soil samples were investigated using Atomic absorption spectrometer. The metal content in garlic samples was found to be in increasing order as Cr> Pb> Cd> Cu> Zn. Infield metal content in the soil also followed the same trend. In garlic samples, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn and Cu ranged from 0.039mg/L to 0.757mg/L, N.D to 1.211mg/L, 0.03mg/L to 0.451mg/L, 0.02mg/Lto0.42mg/L and 0.451mg/L to 0.893mg/L respectively. In soil samples, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn and Cu were ranged from 0.459mg/L to 0.797mg/L, 0.205mg/L to1.062mg/L, 0.074mg/L to 2.598mg/L, 0.124mg/L to 0.276mg/L and 0.494mg/L to 0.921mg/L respectively. In our study, the Pb and Cd was found more in garlic from Gujranwala and Jaranwala, Cu and Zn were more in samples from Kasur while Cr was predominant in sample from Sheikhupura. Heavy metal content in soil and garlic samples was within the permissible limits proposed by World Health Organization (WHO).
Highlights
Research has shown that certain heavy metals are nutritionally essential for a healthy life in very small quantities such as (Fe, Cu, Mn, andZn).Heavy metals become toxic, when they are not metabolized by the body and gather in the soft tissues
The levels of metals detected in garlic and soil samples were compared with the maximum permissible limits of these metals in herbal medicines as established by World Health Organization (WHO)
As compared to the other samples Pb and Cd was found to be present in high concentration in the garlic sample taken from Gujranwala, Cu and Zn was higher in sample from Kasur while Cr was higher in garlic taken from Sheikhupura city
Summary
Research has shown that certain heavy metals are nutritionally essential for a healthy life in very small quantities such as (Fe, Cu, Mn, andZn).Heavy metals become toxic , when they are not metabolized by the body and gather in the soft tissues. Herbal products are being extensively used in Asian (especially in Pakistan and India), several African and Western Countries in the complementary and alternative system of medicine [Patwardhan B, 2005] Garlic is an important ingredient of almost every meal and is widely used in Pakistan because of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal activity. It is used either as a spice or remedy for various disorders. The main objective of this study was to determine the levels of toxic heavy metals in garlic samples and their comparative distribution in different regions of Punjab, Pakistan
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