Impact of heavy metal on the medicinal and aromatic plants’ biochemistry

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long been vital to human health and well-being, serving as critical resources for food, medicine, and environmental sustenance. These plants are characterized by their active biochemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils, which possess therapeutic and aromatic properties. Their importance spans traditional and modern medicine, as well as thecal, food, and cosmetic industries. However, environmental factors, particularlyotic stresses such as heavy metal contamination, significantly influence thetion of these bioactive compounds. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic are among the most harmful environmental pollutants, originating from industrial activities, mining, and agricultural practices. These metals accumulate in soil and water, disrupting plant growth, metabolic functions, and secondarylite production. While some metals, like copper and zinc, are essential micronutrients, their excessive concentrations, alongside toxic metals, can lead to oxidative stress, stunted growth, and bioaccumulation in plants and the food chain, posing serious risks to human and ecological health. Medicinal plants are particularly susceptible to heavy metal contamination due to their bioaccumulation tendencies. Studies have vealed significant heavy metal levels in commonly used species like mint, lavender, and rosemary, potentially jeopardizing their medicinal quality. However, thistion ability also positions medicinal plants as key agents in phytoremediation, a technological approach to mitigating environmental pollution. By tolerating and questering heavy metals, these plants help remediate contaminated soils while maintaining some level of secondary metabolite production. Despite theirdiation potential, heavy metals can alter the composition and yield of essential oils, impacting their medicinal and aromatic properties. These changes depend on factors such as metal concentration, plant species, and metabolic pathways. While low metal concentrations may stimulate essential oil production, higher levels typically inhibit it, underscoring the complex relationship between heavy metals and planttry. To address these challenges, advanced detection technologies, improvedtural practices, and stringent regulations are essential for minimizing heavy metalcontamination. Furthermore, future research must focus on understanding the genetic and biochemical mechanisms underlying these effects, broadening the study scope to include diverse medicinal plant species. Such efforts will optimize the use of medicinal plants in polluted environments and ensure their sustainability for human and industrial applications. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston, Genthiner Straße 13, 10785 Berlin.