摘要：The concentrations of nutrient heavy metals in the roots, stems and leaves of medicinal plants Calotropis procera and Citrullus colocynthis, and in the corresponding sediment samples from Al-Riyadh and Gazan, Saudi Arabia, were investigated to ascertain whether plant species and organs are characterized by differential accumulation, and to test the suitability of the various organs for nutrient and heavy metal bio-monitoring of soil. Nutrient considered were N, Na, K and Ca and heavy metals considered were Cd, Cu and Fe. Between the two plant species,C. colocynthis showed the higher capacity in Na, Fe and Cu accumulation, whileCalotropis procera showed the higher capacity in N, K, Ca and Cd accumulation. Significantly positive relationships were observed among the concentrations of N, Ca, Cd and Fe in organs of C. procera and C. colocynthis and those in sediment, indicating the potential use of the two plants for pollution monitoring of these metals. This study demonstrated that C. procera and C. colocynthis could be considered as either a bio-indicator or a bio-accumulator for sediments polluted by nutrient and metals.
