Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the heavy metal contents in the leaves and seeds of Cannabis sativa cultivated in the southern part of Nigeria. The heavy metal contents in C. sativa leaves and seeds were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer model Perkin Elmer 3110. The heavy metals determined in both samples included arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and manganese (Mn). The results revealed that metal levels in C. sativa leaves exceeded those of the seeds except for Mn, which had the highest content among all the metals determined. The results further showed that As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Hg levels in C. sativa leaves exceeded those of the seeds. Therefore, C. sativa leaves seem to be more dangerous than the seeds.
arsenic; cadmium; chemical composition; chromium; heavy metals; hemp; iron; lead; leaves; manganese; medicinal plants; mercury; nickel; plant composition; seeds; Nigeria; Cannabis sativa; Cannabis; Cannabidaceae; Urticales; dicotyledons; angiosperms; Spermatophyta; plants; eukaryotes; West Africa; Africa South of Sahara; Africa; Developing Countries; ACP Countries; Commonwealth of Nations; Anglophone Africa; chemical constituents of plants; drug plants; medicinal herbs; Mn; officinal plants; Horticultural Crops (FF003) (New March 2000); Plant Composition (FF040); Human Toxicology and Poisoning (VV810) (New March 2000); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400)
