Impact of some heavy metals in soil on oxidative stress indices and chlorophyll levels of Telfaria occidentalis leaves

Abstract

The effect of some heavy metals [mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)] in soil at different concentrations (50, 80 and 100 µg/dm³) on oxidative stress indices [glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity] and levels of chlorophyll from aqueous extract of Telfaria occidentalis leaves was investigated after one hundred and twenty days of exposure. Telfaria occidentalis from soil sample without heavy metal pollution served as control. Results revealed that there was a significant (p< 0.05) decrease in all these parameters (the concentrations of GSH, AA, activity of LDH and levels of chlorophyll) as the concentration of these metals increases, when compared to the control. The results indicated that these metals at 80 and 100 μg/dm3 after exposure for one hundred and twenty days, induced stress in T. occidentalis leaves.