Informatics Publishing Limited

Ambika Sharma ¹, Sunita Shailajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Herbal Research Lab, Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga, Mumbai-400 019, IN

Abstract

Heavy metals as environmental contaminants of terrestrial ecosystems is not a recent phenomenon. As certain plants have a tendency of storing heavy metals from soils, polluted water and atmosphere, heavy metals are a matter of concern in the herbal drugs. Therefore, test for heavy metals is essential for herbal medicines. Fruits of Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) are used individually or in combination as Triphala in number of formulations. Triphala and its constituents act as cardio-tonic, control blood pressure, improve blood circulation and reduce cholesterol levels. Because of such wide use of these fruits in various herbal formulations, it is necessary to analyse at least common heavy metals from the raw materials before they can be processed further. To meet the heavy demand for this raw material and due to the easy accessibility, some supply also comes from neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. In the present paper fruits of Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki procured from India (Karjat) and Nepal (Baghlongh) were analysed for five heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb and Hg by Optical Emission Spectroscopy, which uses the technique of inductively coupled plasma. There was a significant variation in the heavy metal content of fruits collected from India and Nepal.

Keywords

Medicinal Plants, Triphala, ICP-OES Technique, Heavy Metals.

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Ambika Sharma ¹, Subroto Dutta ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Studies, M. D. S. University, Ajmer-305 009, Rajasthan, IN

Abstract

Water chemistry provides precious parameters to evaluate the environmental impact assessment of irrigation projects. The Panchana Dam is situated 12 km north to Karauli in the eastern part of Rajasthan. Panchana Dam site falls under the eastern gravelly/ rocky plateau with outliers of Aravallis, and the total catchment area is about 621.60 sq. km and the command area is about 10606 ha. The climate of Panchana Dam area is almost semi-arid and comparatively milder with distinct winter, summer and rainy seasons. The summer season is from the middle of March to June, being extreme in the month of June. The present study revealed that the water has pH (7.6-8.3), electrical conductivity (260-300 μmhos), total dissolve solids (169-195 mg/L), phosphate (0.121- 1.939 mg/L), total alkalinity (410-650 mg/L), carbonate alkalinity (20-100 mg/L), bicarbonate alkalinity (390-610 mg/L), total hardness (92-128 mg/L), calcium hardness (22.44-33.67 mg/L), magnesium hardness (69.56-90.33 mg/L), chloride (24.14 -28.4 mg/L), and acidity (2.0-4.0 mg/L). Water in Panchana Dam irrigation project (PIP) is influenced by hydrology and related factors, which cause variations in nutrients present in a particular time. PIP as wetland plays an important role to develop the favourable microclimatic conditions for biodiversity as a whole. The physico-chemical analysis of water samples from this area showed that the water is within the safe limits of drinking water quality. Seasonal variations in water quality are due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors of the aquatic system.

Keywords

Panchana Dam, Irrigation Project, Water Quality, Hydrology.

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