Tropentag, September 14 - 16, 2010 in Zurich "World Food System – A Contribution from Europe"

Essential Oils and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Salvia officinalis Cultivated at Different Inter-raw Spaces in Ash-Shoubak, Jordan

¹Al-Balqa Applied University, Ash-Shoubak University College, Dept. of Applied and Essential Sciences, Jordan
²Al-Balqa Applied University, Ash-Shoubak University College, Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, Jordan

Abstract

Essential oil yields and heavy metal contents were determined in the sage medicinal plant, Salvia officinalis L., cultivated at 15, 30 and 45cm inter-raw spacing in Ash-Shoubak in the South of Jordan. Samples were harvested during vegetation (VEG), beginning of blooming (BB), full-blooming (FB) and fruit maturation (FM) stages. Essential oil yield and the content of heavy metals in the plant were determined by using hydrodistilation and atomic absorption spectrometry methods, respectively. The yields of essential oil and heavy metal contents were affected by inter-raw spacing and pheniological stage. The maximum oil yield 2.00±0.115% was obtained in plants cultivated with 15 cm inter-raw spacing and harvested at VEG stage, while the minimum (0.87%) was obtained in plants cultivated with the same inter-raw spacing but harvested at FM stage. Heavy metal contents were variable depending upon both inter-raw spacing and pheniological stage. Co, Cd, and Pb were not detectable. The content of Ni, Zn, Fe, and Cu were increased during the vegetative life cycle of the plant but still below their toxic level. Salvia officinalis L., cultivated in Ash-Shoubak region is found to be rich in oil extract and free from hazard heavy metals.

Keywords: Essential oil, heavy metals, Jordan, sage, Salvia

Contact Address: Mohammad Abu Darwish, Al-Balqa Applied University, Ash-Shoubak University College, Dept. of Applied and Essential Sciences, 19117 Al-Salt, Jordan, e-mail: maa973yahoo.com