Comparative investigation of heavy metals in soil and fruit of medicinal plant Capparis spinosa L. (Case Study: Hashtgerd Region, Iran)

Capparis spinosa L. has a variety of uses, including preventing soil erosion, land restoration, edible consumption, and medicinal benefits. The pollution caused by municipal waste and factory effluents can affect the growth and medicinal properties of this plant in nature. This study aimed to investigate the morphological traits and heavy metals of soil and fruit of C. spinosa in contaminated and uncontaminated natural habitats in Hashtgerd region, Alborz province, Iran in June 2020. For this purpose, stem length, leaf length and width, fruit length and width, coverage and number of rootstocks were measured in 10 random plots of 4 m2. Five samples of soil and fruit of C. spinosa were taken from the plots to measure the heavy metals contents (Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cd and Pb). T-test analysis demonstrated significant differences between two contaminated and uncontaminated sites for the amounts of stem length, fruit length and width, leaf length and width, coverage and density of rootstocks (P < 0.01). The highest amounts of stem length (162.5 cm), leaf length and width (2.4 and 2.7 cm), fruit length and width (3.7 and 2.5 cm), coverage (17.1%) and density (219 plant/ha) were found in the uncontaminated site. There was the higher heavy metals content in the fruit as Zn > Fe > Mn > Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni and in the soil as Zn > Fe > Mn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd. The results of the T-test showed that there was a significant difference between the amounts of Cu, Ni and Mn, Fe, Cd and Pb (P <0.01) and Zn (P < 0.05) in contaminated and uncontaminated sites. Based on the btained results, it was suggested to cultivate this species in contaminated areas with heavy metals for phytoremediation and soil stabilization, and in uncontaminated areas, for medicinal, food and fodder purposes.