engleski

Variability of minerals content in open Dinaride populations of Illyrian savory (Satureja subspicata Vis.)

Monitoring the content of macro-, trace elements and especially toxic and potentially toxic elements is one of the most imported aspects of controling food nutrition value and safety. They are being absorbed by plants to a different extent depending on their source, soil, climatic and other environmental factors. Many members of genus Satureja are well known to their aromatic benefits and they are added to different types of food to improve the flavour and organoleptic properties. The aim of this study was to determine minerals content of Illyrian savory (Satureja subspicata Vis.). Plant material was collected from seven different localities in Croatia positioned on open rocky Dinaride along the Adriatic coast (from Istra Peninsula to Sniježnica near Dubrovnik).The macro- and trace elements content, after microwave digestion, were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the amount in all investigated minerals, and depending on locality the variability within samples ranged for total ash content from 6.68–22.73%, macroelements Na 4.46–74.77%, K 0.74–58.56%, Ca 6.37–19.71%, Mg 14.72–73.81%, trace elements Fe 13.86–180.92%, Zn 3.86–96.68%, Cu 20.05–82.11%, Mn 22.51–118.28%, Al 77.99–193.72%, Ni 6.35–72.65%, B 0.55–29.62%, Cr 4.01–88.93% and Cd from 29.73–129.73%. Obtained levels of toxic and potentially toxic elements (Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) were considerably lower than valid Croatian Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC) adjusted to EU regulations. Analyses of the results revealed that, despite environmental factors and significant differences in the amount of investigated minerals, Satureja subspicata Vis., as pot herb and natural food preservatives can be good source of some macro- and essential trace elements.

macro- and trace elements variability; Satureja subspicata; different localities

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