Abstract

Mankind has been using plants and natural products since time immemorial for fighting the menace of heavy metal toxicity both in humans as well as in environment surrounding them. Nearly thirty five metals have been reported to cause occupational or accidental exposure to humans. Amongst these, twenty three are heavy metals. The increasing use of such heavy metals including radionuclides constitutes deleterious health issues. Presence of heavy metals in environment and their subsequent effects on humans down the food chain creates potential health hazard. Therefore removal of heavy metal has been a subject of paramount importance. Results of an exhaustive literature survey of natural and plant based compounds against heavy metal pollution including patents, books and scientific data from globally accepted scientific databases and search engines (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science, Sci Finder and Google Scholar), is systematically reviewed. It is conceived that a number of phytochemical agents as well microorganism can act as heavy metal removing agent both from human beings and the environment surrounding. Microbes which are used for the removal of heavy metals from the water bodies include bacteria, fungi, algae and yeast. Some important antioxidants such as flavonoids, pectin and phytic acid are also used for the elimination of the heavy metals from the human body. The present article is an extensive review that will offer a number of strategies and possible mechanisms for the heavy metals removal both from environment as well as from human body.