Basic Composition, Antioxidative Properties, and Selected Mineral Content of the Young Shoots of Nigella (Nigella sativa L.), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), and Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) at Different Stages of Vegetation

Abstract

Young shoots are a completely new and rapidly growing group of foodstuffs. Also known as “vegetable confetti”, they are a useful addition to commonly consumed meals and often serve a decorative purpose, especially when paired with traditional dishes. Most users are unaware of their invaluable properties as a source of bioactive compounds and add them simply as a dish garnish. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate and compare selected health quality parameters of the young shoots of rare oilseed plants (Nigella sativa L., Carthamus tinctorius L., and Camelina sativa L.), which have not been studied in the literature. They are examined for proximate composition (dry matter, total protein, crude fat, ash, digestible carbohydrates, dietary fiber), antioxidative properties (vitamin C, total carotenoids, and total polyphenol content), the content of sixteen selected minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, barium, iron, lithium, beryllium, nickel, gallium, indium, bismuth, silver) as well as antioxidant activity at two harvest dates. The ready-to-eat young shoots in the phase of intensive growth are characterized by a very high content of the examined components and antioxidant properties, which differ depending on the harvest date and plant species. Significantly higher contents of protein, fat, and some minerals have been found in the young shoots from the first harvest compared to those from the second harvest. The antioxidant properties of the young shoots generally increase with maturity. It was not possible, however, to conclusively assess which species of young shoots show the highest health quality.

Evaluation of Selected Heavy Metal Contaminants as Well as Nitrates and Nitrites in the Microgreens of Nigella (Nigella sativa L.), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), and Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) at Different Stages of Vegetation

“…However, the discussion also included references to the results converted to fresh vegetable weight. Conversions to the fresh weight of the vegetables were carried out on the basis of the results of their basic composition, including dry weight, presented in an earlier publication by Kapusta-Duch et al [20], which is complementary to the present study. In plants, the tendency to uptake and accumulate arsenic is closely related to the similarity of this element to phosphorus.…”