Extractability of selected mineral and trace elements in infusions of chamomile.
Chamomile flower heads were extracted with boiling water and the elements calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and cadmium were recorded in the drug and the resulting infusions. The extractabilities for calcium, magnesium and potassium in the infusions were 19-23%, 47-48% and 65-73%, respectively. Cadmium could be recovered to 15-21% in the infusions and zinc to 23-34%. A longer extraction time gave slightly higher recovery rates for potassium and zinc. The extraction of less plant material gave a slight reduction in the extractability only in the case of cadmium. A single cup of chamomile infusion can only afford a small proportion of the daily requirement of the mineral elements.
Chizzola
Remigius
R
Institute for Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy, Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Remigius.Chizzola@vu-wien.ac.at
Michitsch
Hanneliese
H
Mitteregger
Ulrike S
US
D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium