Secondary Compounds Assessment in Some Street Plants Exposed to Air Pollution in Jeddah Governorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research was carried out to identify the most effective plant species for air purification based on environmental factors. The existence of plants beside roadways can be considered a more efficient approach to improving air quality and minimizing pollution exposure. The samples for this research were collected from various sites across the streets of Jeddah governorate. The primary sources of air pollution in the research area are vehicle traffic and emissions from cars. Eight species were gathered from various streets in Jeddah governorate, namely, Azadirachta indica , Senna sulfurea , Ziziphus spina - chri sti , Cordia sebestena , Tecoma stans , Bougainvillea spectabilis , Conocarpus lancifolius , and Ixora coccinea . The leaves of the studied plants were analyzed for secondary compounds using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Gas-chromatographic analyses revealed that bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was found in every plant. Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, a widespread environmental pollutant. Moreover, Cordia sebestena was the sole plant that contained Phenol, 2,2’-methylenebis [6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl] which is part of the phenols category. Environmental conditions can affect the production of secondary metabolites. By tracking the concentrations of these substances, researchers can evaluate the well-being of ecosystems and identify pollution.