Bioaccumulation Potential and Phytochemical Profiling of Coffea arabica And Pueraria montana Leaves Obtained from Eyaa Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the phytochemical composition and metal content of Coffea arabica and Pueraria montana leaves collected from Eyaa Community, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Phytochemical screening was conducted using spectrophotometric methods, while metal content was determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The phytochemical analysis showed thatCoffea arabica contained higher concentrations of alkaloids (67.00 ± 0.01 mg/ml), polyphenols (11.03 ± 0.00 mg/ml), and tannins (0.99 ± 0.00 mg/ml), indicating its strong antioxidant and stimulant potentials. In contrast, Pueraria montana exhibited elevated levels of flavonoids (30.00 ± 0.01 mg/ml), cardiac glycosides (27.01 ± 0.02 mg/ml), and puerarin (37.00 ± 0.01 mg/ml), suggesting pronounced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties.Soil metal analysis revealed the presence of iron (1.939 ± 0.01 mg/kg), copper (0.02 ± 0.00 mg/kg), nickel (0.005 ± 0.00 mg/kg), and lead (0.019 ± 0.00 mg/kg), while cadmium, arsenic, and chromium were not detected. Metal content analysis of the plant samples showed that Pueraria montana contained iron (20.692 ± 0.00 mg/kg), chromium (0.014 ± 0.00 mg/kg), and lead (0.115 ± 0.00 mg/kg), whereas Coffea arabica contained iron (1.846 ± 0.00 mg/kg), copper (0.021 ± 0.00 mg/kg), and nickel (0.006 ± 0.00 mg/kg). The findings indicate that Pueraria montana has a higher tendency to bioaccumulate metals such as chromium and lead from the soil. The study therefore recommends regular monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in medicinal plants to ensure their safety and suitability for therapeutic applications.