The purpose of this study was to inspect the suitability of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated areas in urban areas of Egypt through study the impact of the most common pollutants in Egypt: cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on morphological traits, and essential oil (EOs) content of sweet basil. The experiment was done under greenhouse conditions. The applied treatments tested in this experiment for Cd concentrations were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 ppm and for Pb: 100, 350, 750, 1,000, 1,500 ppm. The composition and amount of EOs had been determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicated that the contaminated soil had a negative impact on morphological traits development of basil (e.g., the decline in fresh and dry weight). The increase in Cd and Pb concentrations enhanced the EOs yield of sweet basil. In general, basil cultivation in the Cd and Pb contaminated soils could cause undesirable impacts on morphological traits; however, the presence of these metals has a major influence on the EOs yield, composition, and phytoremediation of the soil.
Keywords: Environmental pollution; heavy metals; medicinal plants; phytoremediation.