Sains Malaysiana 39(3)(2010): 347–352

Effects of Metal-contaminated Soils on the Accumulation of Heavy Metals in

Different Parts of Centella asiatica: A Laboratory Study

(Kesan Penimbunan Logam Berat di dalam Pelbagai Bahagian Centella asiatica dari Tanah yang Tercemar dengan Logam Berat: Satu Kajian dalam Makmal)

C.K. Yap*, M. R. Mohd Fitri & Y. Mazyhar

Department of Biology

Faculty of Science

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor D. E

Malaysia

S.G. Tan

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

Faculty of Biotechnology and Bimolecular Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor D. E

Malaysia

Received: 21 January 2009 / Accepted: 19 October 2009

ABSTRACT

Centella asiatica is widely used as a medicinal plant in Malaysia and other parts of the world. In the present study, the growth and uptake of heavy metal by C. asiatica were determined based on the plant exposure to different treatment of metal-contaminated soils under laboratory conditions. Heavy metals uptake in different parts of the plants namely roots, stems and leaves were determined. In general, it was found that the metal uptake capacity followed the order: roots > stems > leaves. Since a close positive relationship was established between the concentrations of metal accumulated in different parts of the plant and the metal levels in the most contaminated soil, C. asiatica has the potential of being used as a biomonitoring plant for heavy metal pollution in the polluted soils.

Keywords: Centella asiatica; laboratory study; metal-contaminated soils

ABSTRAK

Centella asiatica merupakan tumbuhan yang digunakan sebagai ubat secara meluas di Malaysia dan di seluruh pelusuk dunia. Dalam kajian ini, pertumbuhan dan penyerapan logam berat oleh C. asiatica telah ditentukan berdasarkan kepada pendedahan tumbuhan tersebut terhadap pelbagai treatmen dengan tanah yang tercemar dengan logam berat di bawah keadaan laboratori. Penyerapan logam berat dalam bahagian berlainan tumbuhan telah ditentukan di akar, batang dan daun. Secara umumnya, didapati bahawa kapasiti penyerapan logam berat dalam tumbuhan ini adalah mengikut urutan: akar> batang> daun. Berdasarkan kepada hubungan positif yang rapat antara penimbunan logam berat di bahagian-bahagian berlainan tumbuhan ini dengan kandungan logam berat dalam tanah yang paling tercemar, C. asiatica amat berpotensi sebagai biopemonitoran bagi pencemaran logam berat di dalam tanah yang tercemar.

Kata kunci: Centella asiatica; kajian makmal; tanah tercemar logam berat

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*Corresponding author; email: yapckong@hotmail.com