Effect of Heavy Metals (Cu, Zn and Cr) on Total Carbohydrate and Protein Content in Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees is a medicinal plant that is used to treat various diseases like diabetes, hepatitis, and fever. The current study is aimed to identify the effect of three selected heavy metals Copper, Zink, and Chromium on the total carbohydrate and protein content in Andrographis paniculata. Concentrations selected for the analysis are 25ppm, 50ppm, 75ppm, 100ppm, 125ppm, 150ppm and 175ppm. Heavy metal treatment was done in the hydroponics method which was carried out in glass bottles. Modified Hogland Solution (Epstein, 1972) was used as a nutrient medium for hydroponics culture. Plant samples for the carbohydrate and protein content estimation were collected at 10-day intervals. The study shows that 25 ppm Cu causes a very slight increase in carbohydrate content as compared to control and from 50 ppm Cu treatment causes a lowering of carbohydrate content. Zn and Cr cause a lowering of carbohydrate content even from 25ppm. The protein content is found to be increased in all three heavy metal treated plants at lower concentrations. From the concentration higher than 125 ppm Cu and Zn cause lowering of protein content. The plants treated with Cr show a lowering of protein content from 75ppm concentration. How to cite this article: Hridhya M.J., Anitha C.T. (2022). Effect of Heavy Metals (Cu, Zn and Cr) on Total Carbohydrate and Protein Content in Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees. Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences-Botany, 41B(1), 71-74. Keywords Heavy metal pollution, Total carbohydrate content, Protein estimation, Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees.