Determination of levels of heavy metals in some selected traditional medicinal plants in Southern Ethiopia

Medicinal plants have worldwide applications in the treatment of different types human diseases. The purpose current study was to determine concentration selected essential and non-essential metals; Na, Ca, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb traditional medicinal (Artemisia afra (ariti), Hagenia abyssinica (kosso enchet), Foeniculum vulgare (Ensilal), Echinops kebericho (qeberecho)) grown Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. A wet digestion procedure involving use mixtures (69-72%) HNO3 (70%) HclO4 at an optimum temperature time duration were used isolate metals from by using FAAS.Based on results, Ca ranged 1.75 mg/kg 4.98 mg/kg, Mg 1.35 2.22 Na raged 1.29 to1.80mg/kg, Mn 0.09 1.21 that Fe lied range 0.23 0.78 studied. Among toxic heavy metals, least (0.08 0.11 mg/kg) levels remaining trace ranges 0.54-0.97 0.25-0.29 0.20-0.33 in.Zn, Cd Cu respectively. None studied samples found contain Cadmium, Copper Nickel concentrations above WHO/FAO limits for safe consumption (25, 40 5 respectively) Further studies should be continued screening phytochemical activities under study.