⚠ Official Notice: www.ijisrt.com is the official website of the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) Journal for research paper submission and publication. Please beware of fake or duplicate websites using the IJISRT name.



Assessment of Trace Elements Concentrations and Health Risks of Medicinal Plant Leaves in Gombe Metropolis, Northeastern, Nigeria


Authors : Aminu Muhammad; Seydou Hankouraou; Ishiyaku Ibrahim Babayo; Ahmadu Muhammad Aliyu; Hamza Abubakar Hamza

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yxvdw84e

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2rnsytrd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul1558

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : Medicinal plants remain an important component of primary healthcare in many developing countries, including Nigeria, due to their accessibility, affordability, and long-standing therapeutic use. However, the safety of herbal materials is increasingly threatened by environmental contamination, particularly from trace and toxic elements that may accumulate in plant tissues. This study assessed the trace element concentrations and associated health risks of selected medicinal plant leaves collected from fifteen locations within Gombe Metropolis, Northeastern, Nigeria. Fifteen medicinal plant species were sampled, identified, air-dried, pulverized, and analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF).

Keywords : Trace Elements, Medicinal Plants, Heavy Metals, Health Risk Assessment, Gombe Metropolis.

References :

  1. Adetola, O. O., Akinyemi, G. O., Oyediji, O. T., Onafurume, O. M., & Adekoya, O. O. (2023). Heavy metals contamination in some medicinal plants from Onigambari forest reserve. Discovery, 59, e29d1033. pISSN 2278–5469; eISSN 2278–5450
  2. Alloway, B. J. (2013). Heavy metals in soils: Trace metals and metalloids in soils and their bioavailability (3rd ed.). Springer. Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4470-7 SBN : 978-94-007-4469-1 (print), 978-94-007-4470-7 (eBook)
  3. Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B., & Beeregowda, K. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, Volume 7 Issue 2, Pp 60–72. https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2014-0009.
  4. Kabata-Pendias, A. (2011). Trace elements in soils and plants (4th ed.). CRC Press. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b10158
  5. Katuura, E., Waako, P., Ogwal-Okeng, J., & Bukenya-Ziraba, R. (2016). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in herbal medicines used in Uganda. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Article ID 8961504. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8961504
  6. Nkpaa, K. W., Wegwu, M. O., Essien, E. B., & Ogamba, E. N. (2016). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals and human health risk assessment in three fish species from Iwofe Coastal Waters, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Health and Pollution, Volume 6, Issue 10, Pp1-10. https://doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-6-10.1
  7. Sadisu G., Aduloju, E. I., Abubakar, A., & Olanrewaju, M. O. (2024). Comparative study    of heavy metals in plant and soil of some selected medicinal plants. FUDMA Journal of Sciences, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pp714–721
  8. Sardar, K., Ali, S., Hameed, S., Afzal, S., Fatima, S., Shakoor, M., Bharwana, S. A., & Tauqeer, H. M. (2013). Heavy metals contamination and what are the impacts on living organisms. Greener Journal of Environmental Management and Public Safety, Volume 2, Issue 4,  Pp172–179.
  9. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2006). Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) – Reference Dose (RfD) for Non-Carcinogenic Risk Assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  10. World Health Organization. (2019). WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019. WHO Press.

Medicinal plants remain an important component of primary healthcare in many developing countries, including Nigeria, due to their accessibility, affordability, and long-standing therapeutic use. However, the safety of herbal materials is increasingly threatened by environmental contamination, particularly from trace and toxic elements that may accumulate in plant tissues. This study assessed the trace element concentrations and associated health risks of selected medicinal plant leaves collected from fifteen locations within Gombe Metropolis, Northeastern, Nigeria. Fifteen medicinal plant species were sampled, identified, air-dried, pulverized, and analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF).

Keywords : Trace Elements, Medicinal Plants, Heavy Metals, Health Risk Assessment, Gombe Metropolis.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - August - 2026

SUBMIT YOUR PAPER CALL FOR PAPERS
Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe