Heavy metal concentration in Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), Collected from River Nile State, Sudan

The study aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metal in fenugreek plants collected from different regions in River Nile State using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. The XRF device was calibrated with a standard reference material and the samples were irradiated with X-rays to emit secondary X-rays that were analyzed by the XRF detector. The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe) in samples of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) are reported in terms of milligrams per gram (mg/g). The result shows the average concentrations across all samples. It appears that the highest concentration of iron (Fe) was found in Damer, with 0.09 mg/g, while the lowest concentration of zinc (Zn) was found across all the samples, with an average concentration of 0.0014 mg/g. The sample of fenugreek plant has higher concentrations of chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) than the allowable limits, while the concentrations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) are within the allowable limits. Excessive concentration of certain elements in plants can be harmful to both the plant itself and to animals and humans that consume the plant. For example, the high levels of chromium (Cr) can be toxic to the liver and kidneys. It is important to note that the allowable limit may vary depending on the plant species, growing conditions, and the intended use of the plant.