Heavy Metal and Phytochemical Studies of Crude Leaf Extract of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

摘要

Plants have served humankind as sources of medicinal agents since its earliest beginnings. In fact, natural products once served as the source of all the drugs. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L) is a leguminous tree in the family Fabaceae indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus Tamarindus is a monotypic taxon, having only a single species. The tamarind tree produces edible, pod-like fruit which is used extensively in cuisines around the world. Other uses include traditional medicine and metal polish. The wood can be used in carpentry. Because of the tamarind's many uses, cultivation has spread around the world in tropical and subtropical zones [1].Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a multipurpose tropical tree used primarily because its fruits and leaves have eatable properties. Both parts of the plant have also medicinal uses, but in the specific case of the leaves, little information about their chemical composition is available. In this paper, we explore the tamarind leaves’ composition of dry crude leaf matter to subject to heavy metals, NPK and phytochemical analysis by standard methods. Crude leaves matter employing Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and total Kjeldahl digests by UV-VIS spectrophotometry and K analysis was done in Kjeldal digests by Flame photometry method. Results confirm the production of essential oils, free and conjugated fatty acids, flavonoids, and other compounds, but also indicated the presence of seven heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, Fe, Ca, and Mg) and N.P.K. compounds for this part of the plants.