Assessment of essential trace elements in selected food grains, herbal spices and seeds commonly used in Kenya

Abstract

Trace elements are essential in preserving good health and body immunity to diseases. The study was undertaken to determine the levels of chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in herbal spices, food grains and edible seeds commonly used in Kenya. The levels of elements were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The herbal spices, food grains and seeds considered in this study included coriander (Coriandrum sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinalis), garlic (Allium sativum), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon grass (cymbogon citratus) rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), wheat (Triticum cestivum L.), brown rice (Oryza sativa), finger millet (Elusine coracana), bulrush millet ((Pennisetem glaucum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), sunflower seeds (Helianthus anuus), watermelon seeds (Citrullus lanatus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds. The results indicated that lemon grass had the highest V levels (14.40±1.20 mg/kg) followed by ginger at (14.38±0.31 mg/kg) while coriander seeds had the highest Cr levels (13.00±0.42 mg/kg), followed by lemon grass (12.80±1.47 mg/kg). Bulrush millet had the highest Se levels (198.38±3.75 µg/k) followed by sorghum (151.20±12.8 µg/kg). Pumpkin seeds had the highest level of Zn (53.54±1.44 mg/kg) followed by watermelon seeds at 41.00±5.79 mg/kg. The food grains, seeds and herbal spices could provide the body with the required daily intake. Consumption of mixed diet could therefore provide the body with essential trace elements that could boost the body immunity especially to those people with compromised health.

Development of a Comprehensive Approach to Assessing the Content of Elemental Contaminants in Native Herbal Medicinal Products, Using Pumpkin Seeds as a Case Study

“…[5,6], противогрибковым [7], противовоспалительным, ранозаживляющим [8] и противоязвенным действием [9], а также характеризуются гипохолестеринемическим и антиоксидантным потенциалом [10][11][12]. Кроме того, семена тыквы рекомендуют использовать в качестве БАД, так как они содержат эссенциальные элементы, токоферолы, фосфолипиды, стерины, фосфатиды, флавоноиды, витамины В 1 , В 2 , С, Р, РР, F, пальмитиновую, стеариновую, олеиновую, линолевую, линоленовую и арахидоновую кислоты [13][14][15][16][17].…”

“…Руководство по оценке риска для здоровья населения при воздействии химических веществ, загрязняющих окружающую среду. М.: Федеральный центр Госсанэпиднадзора Минздрава России; 2004 15. British herbal compendium: a handbook of scientific information on widely used plant drugs.…”