Investigation on Influence of Heavy Metals on Physiology of an Important Medicinal Plant Tinospora cordifolia Willd under Experimental Conditions

Abstract

An immense interest has been focused on the toxic effect of heavy metals in the plants as most of the soils act as sink for metals. Heavy metal pollution of biosphere is increasing drastically due to industrialization and anthropogenic activities. The treatment of high concentration of some heavy metals to plants shows in reduction of plant growth. The medicinal plants constitute, a large group of plants (both lower and higher) providing raw materials for use in drug formulation and related industries. If such plants are either naturally grown or cultivated in metal contaminated regions, there is a danger that the heavy metal accumulation by plants of medicinal value may cause serious health hazards to patients using metal adulterated herbal drugs. The long-term (60 and days) irrigation with chromium, lead and cadmium, contaminated water on Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) seedlings did not favour proper establishment, growth and development characteristics. Hence, height of plants, leaf number, growth-biomass, photosynthetic pigments, biochemical contents and antioxidant enzymes were found to be affected. To ensure the quality of herbal medicine, it is recommended that large scale plantation of T. cordifolia be recommended on the sites nearly free from chromium, cadmium and lead to sustain plant performance and pharmaceutical production eventually. Miers Hook F. and Thoms repoted Tinospora cordifolia (wild), is widely used in folkflore and Ayurvedic system of medicine, belonging to the family Menispermaceae. It is commonly known as Giloy. It is a glabrous climbing shrub with heart shaped leaves and distributed throughout the tropical Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh, Srilanka, South Africa. In Ayurveda, it is given to the patients suffering from fever, diabetes, jaundice, skin disease, urinary diseases and piles. The pharmaceutical significance of this plants is mainly because of various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins and amino acids, fixed oil and fats tanins, saponin, st