FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY
SEMINAR REPORT
ON
HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN
EKITI STATE
PRESENTED BY
ADEKUNLE AGNES ADEIFE
CHE/2020/1016
NOVEMBER, 2024
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CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that this seminar paper was written by Adekunle Agnes Adeife with the
Matriculation Number: CHE/2020/1016 in the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of
Science, Federal University Oye Ekiti.
------------------------- -------------------------
MR NAZIRU IMAM Date
Seminar supervisor
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Dr. O.L Faboya Date
Head of Department
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DEDICATION
To God Almighty
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I give all glory, honor and adoration to almighty God who sustained me and has been my
protector and provider during the course of this study.
I express my sincere gratitude to my seminar coordinator, Mr Naziru Imam, for his support,
corrective inputs when I seemed to go out of focus. I appreciate you, Sir. You really have been a
great source of inspiration to me.
My gratitude also goes to the Head of Department; Dr. O.L Faboya and other lecturers in the
Department who have imparted me with knowledge during the course of my study.
I also want to use this moment to recognize my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adekunle for thier moral,
financial, spiritual support during this programme.
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Abstract
This study assessed heavy metals contamination in traditional medicine in Ekiti State. The
common sources of heavy metal are anthropogenic activities mainly as result of industrial
activities and improper disposal of refuse as well as runoff from applied fertilizers and pesticides.
Heavy metals may enter medicinal plant-based remedies through both intentional and
unintentional routes. The external appearance of medicinal plants cannot guarantee safety from
contamination especially when farming activities are carried out around contaminated areas.
Reliance on plants collected from the wild causes not only a threat to medicinal plant
biodiversity but also conjecture with regards to safety, as industrial encroachment has led to
contamination of water tables and soil. This study realized that combination of raw heavy metals
and medicinal plants may alter the cell uptake, distribution and elimination profile as well as the
therapeutic properties; however no pharmacotherapeutic studies exist to analyse the effect of
these herbo-metallic preparations It is imperative that potential risk factors of heavy metal intake
from African traditional medicine products be addressed and that regulatory guidelines should be
enforced. This study therefore recommended that considering the health hazards of the
accumulation of these heavy metals to human health, the need to screen medicinal plants used in
traditional medicine; as raw materials and the finished herbal products for heavy metals content
and concentration is highly desirable and Nevertheless, proper disposal of household and
industrial waste is thus, a necessity; because primary source of heavy metals in herbal plants was
mainly as a result of the availability of these metals in the soil where these plants are grown.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of content vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Heavy metals
2.2 Heavy metal Accumulation by Medicinal Plants in Ekiti State
2.2.1 Sources of Contamination of Heavy metals in Traditional Medicine in Ekiti
2.3 Factors Influencing Bioavailability of Metals in Soil and their occurrences in Plants
2.3.1 Transfer of Heavy Metals from Soil to Plants
2.4 Heavy Metals in Medicinal Plants and Plant-based Products
2.5 Health Effects of Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Humans in Ekiti
2.6 Poisoning from Heavy Metal Contamination of Traditional Medicine Products
2.7 International Standards regarding Heavy Metals in Traditional Medicine
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 Conclusion
3.2 Recommendations
References
