Comparative Study on the differences in Elemental-Uptake by Seeds and Leaves of Datura Stramonium (Linn)

Currently, D. stramonium is handled as an esoteric plant, and its toxicity is arbitrarily attributed to the phytochemicals without consideration of heavy metals and macro-elements. The ingestion of the leaves and seeds causes many consumers to suffer innumerable health effects connected to heavy metals toxicity. This research determined the uptake of metals by the seeds and leaves of Datura stramonium. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific Pvt. Ltd. India Model No. AA 303) Double Beam was used to screen nine heavy metals in the leaves and seeds of D. stramonium. The heavy metals - Ag, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, and macro-elements - Ca, K, Mg, P, and N were quantified and compared. Result gave Ag: 0.0569 +/- 0.02 ppm for the seeds and 0.0285 +/- 0.01 ppm leaves. Cr had 0.0583 +/- 0.01 ppm in seeds but undetected in leaves. Cu 0.4203 +/- 0.03 ppm in seeds and leaves 0.3557 +/- 0.05 ppm. Fe had 4.0349 +/- 0.10 ppm in seeds and 4.6463 +/- 0.01 ppm in leaves. Mercury was undetected in the seeds, but 4.0000 +/- 0.03 ppm was detected in leaves. Mn - 0.0972 +/- 0.02 ppm in seeds, and 0.3565 +/- 0.05 ppm in leaves. Ni - 0.1026 +/- 0.1 ppm in seeds, and 0.9231 +/- 0.02 ppm in leaves. Pb was undetected in seeds, but 0.5000 +/- 0.01 ppm in leaves. Zn 0.4069 +/- 0.02 ppm in seeds and 0.5368 +/- 0.04 ppm leaves. The permissible limit of some metals is Cr 0.003 ppm, Cu 0.010 ppm, Fe 5.000 ppm, Mn 0.30 ppm, Ni 0.020 ppm, and Zn 2.00 ppm, respectively. The uptake of macro-elements - Ca, K, Mg, P, and N showed that the seeds had 9.3333 +/- 0.03 ppm, and leaves 90.6667 0.03 ppm for Ca. K - 6.4972 +/- 0.04 ppm in seed, and 6.7293 +/- 0.03 ppm in leaves. Mg - 11.0892 +/- 0.02ppm in seed and 12.3083 +/- 0.01 ppm in leaves. P - 0.2000 +/- 0.01 % in seeds and 0.38000 +/- 0.21% leaves, while N had 1.8910 +/- 0.02 % in seed and leaves 4.4040 +/- 0.32%. The concentration of Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Mn are above the permissible limits prescribed by the WHO. High accumulation of some heavy metals in leaves and seeds was due to plant tendency to accumulate precise metals. The contents of trace elements may be due to the polluted soil where the plant grows and its ability to selectively hoard elements.