Indoor Plants: A Review on Phytoremediation

Abstract

From ancient times plants are considered an auspicious symbol for many cultural and traditional purposes. Plants have also set their very significance in our lives, not only biologically but also culturally. Plants pose many beneficial activities like air purification, stress reduction, improvement in cognitive power, and many pharmacological activities. Besides this, plants also add colors to the bland place, which makes the place more attractive and approachable. Our sedentary lifestyle indoors has also put a great impact on our health. The closed and inadequately ventilated indoor spaces lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), which is caused by particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and inorganic compounds released by the appliances and furniture present indoors. Phytoremediation technique deals with cost-effective environmental restoration by using plants to clean air, soil and water. Plants which can thrive in partial shade/ indirect sunlight or full shade conditions can be listed under indoor plants. Their addition to empty and bland indoor place, pop up the colour and may alleviate one’s mood. This review deals with the phytoremediating activities of houseplants like spider plant, peace lily, aglaonema, calathea, pilea peperomioides, kalanchoe, coleus, moth orchid and dracaena fragrans.