Effects of heavy metals on the medicinal plant

In the developing countries heavy metal pollution becomes serious due to mining, mineral, smelting and tannery industry. Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs for the majority of the worlds population. Medicinal, aromatic and spice plants grown in different regions of Austria were monitored as to their Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and AS contents. Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring toxic element in the environment. Human activities all over the earth have increased environmental pollution by heavy metals in agricultural soil. Quality and safety standards for herbal medicine that clearly stipulate the maximum allowable value of heavy metals in herbal medicine have been enacted and put into effect by many countries. Phytoremediation is a new technology in which plants are used to remove pollutants from water and soil. The use of metal-accumulating plants to clean environment contaminated with heavy metals is the most rapidly developing component of this environmentally friendly and cost-effective technology.