Constituents of MaharaibHerb(Cympobogon Proximus)and Its Efficiency in Removing Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media

Abstract

Cymbopogon proximusis considered one of medicinal plant which is widely used especially in Sudan. The present study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical composition of the leaves extracts (Distilled Water and Chloroform) of C.proximus. In Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the aqueous extraction possess higher amount of phytochemical constituents compared to chloroform, the results showed that the saponins ,tannins and terpenes were found in a large quantities comparing to others. The amount of essential oil obtained by hydro distillation was 4.46%w/w. the chemical composition of essential oil of C.proximus was analyzed by GC/MS system. A total of 13 constituents were identified;Piperitone (43.2%), elemol ( 15.45%), 4-carene (7.55%), β-eudesmol (7.49%), limonene (4.92%) and ɣ-eudesmol (4.38%) , where other minor components were less than 3 to 0.1%. The monoterpenes constitute (4-carene, 2-carene, limonene, p-menth-2-en-1-ol, Cis-p-mentha-2,8dien-1-ol, piperitone, 1,8-cineole) represented about (68.63%) of the oil and The oxygenated sesquiterpenes constitute (Elemol, ß-eudesomal, ɣ-eudesomal, Cuparene) represented about (29.74%). In another investigationthe plant was used according to their folkloric use to remove heavy metals from water. The heavy metals in this study were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and the results showed that C.proximus has a good capability to remove the lead and zinc from aqueous medium, the lead concentration was decreased from 10.0ppm to 5.77 ,4.30 ,and 3.41 ppm at 10,20,30 minutes respectively and the zinc concentration was decreased from 10.0ppm to 7.52, 4.10 and 2.7 ppm at 10,20,30 minutes respectively when treated with 2.0(g) of plants powder, due to specific chemical structure of flavonoids which can chelate metal ions and form complexes.