Essential and nonessential heavy metals like iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) were analyzed in four selected medicinal plants such as Capparis spinosa, Peganum harmala, Rhazya stricta, and Tamarix articulata by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). These medicinal plants are extensively used as traditional medicine for treatment of various ailments by local physicians in the area from where these plants were collected. The concentration level of heavy metals in the selected plants was found in the decreasing order as Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb. The results revealed that the selected medicinal plants accumulate these elements at different concentrations. Monitoring such medicinal plants for heavy metals concentration is of great importance for physicians, health planners, health care professionals, and policymakers in protecting the public from the adverse effects of these heavy metals.

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Heliotropium bacciferum is paramount in medicinal perspective and belongs to Boraginaceae family. The crude and numerous fractions of leaves, stem, and roots of the plant were investigated for phytochemical analysis and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Phytochemical analysis of crude and fractions of the plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and phenols. The antioxidant (free radical scavenging) activity of various extracts of the Heliotropium bacciferum was resolute against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical with the avail of UV spectrophotometer at 517 nm. The stock solution (1000 mg/mL) and then several dilutions (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/mL) of the crude and fractions were prepared. Ascorbic acid was used as a standard. The plant leaves (52.59 ± 0.84 to 90.74 ± 1.00), stem (50.19 ± 0.92 to 89.42 ± 1.10), and roots extracts (49.19 ± 0.52 to 90.01 ± 1.02) divulged magnificent antioxidant activities. For the ascertainment of the fatty acid constituents a gas chromatograph hyphenated to mass spectrometer was used. The essential fatty acids for growth maintenance such as linoleic acid (65.70%), eicosadienoic acid (15.12%), oleic acid (8.72%), and palmitic acid (8.14%) were found in high percentage. The infrared spectra of all extracts of the plant were recorded by IR Prestige-21 FTIR model.

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Mechanisms of the radiolytic formation of 99TcIV O2¥nH2O colloids were studied by bremsstrahlung irradiation of an aqueous Pertechnetate (TcVIIO4-) solution under different conditions; pH of the target solution, concentration of TcO4-and presence or absence of radical scavengers and of seed particles of TcO2•nH2O. Colloid particccccticcles (30-130 nm) of TcO2¥nH2O-a coagulate of nanoparticles with the size of 2 nm-were radiolytically produced at pH higher than 3, whereas a soluble Tc(IV) species but colloid was formed at lower pH. The soluble Tc(IV) species transformed to the TcO2¥nH2O colloid when the pH of the solution was raised to 3 or higher after the irradiation. This fact suggests that the soluble Tc(IV) species is .a precursor of the TcO2•nH2O colloid. The presence of TcO2•nH2O seed particles in the target solution of TcO4-did not enlarge of the partcile size, revealing that the solidification would take place rather in the solution than on the surface of nanoparticles. The reduction of TcO4in acidic solutions proceeded mainly through processes involving a bimolecular reaction of TcO4-with hydrogen radicals, followed by the successive disproportionation reactions of Tc(VI) and Tc(V).