title: Determination of certain micro and macroelements in plant stimulants and their infusions.
abstract: The quantitative analysis of Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, P and Zn by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Ca, K and Mg by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) has been carried out in both the raw material and infusions from 31 samples of traditional plant stimulants (tea and coffee) and mate, rooibos, honeybush and chamomile. The results were discussed with respect to differences to the beverage quality and their role in the human diet. The levels of elements not significantly differ between tea types (black, green, oolong, white), and between Arabica and Robusta coffee. In comparison with tea, coffee was found to be a poor source of elements with the exception of Ca and Fe. High levels of B, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg and Zn were found in mate (mainly green type) and of B, Ca, Cu, Fe and P in chamomile, whereas the amounts of all elements in rooibos and honeybush infusions were low (except of Ca). Apart from tea, other stimulants appeared to not represent important sources of potentially harmful amounts of Al for the human diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry in Tropics and Subtropics, Institute of Tropics and Subtropics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 129 Kamycka, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 129 Kamycka, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jirina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szakova
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science and Geology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 129 Kamycka, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Drabek
authors.affiliation: Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 129 Kamycka, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balik
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry in Tropics and Subtropics, Institute of Tropics and Subtropics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 129 Kamycka, 165 21 Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic. Electronic address: kokoska@itsz.czu.cz.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kokoska
keywords: AAS; ICP-OES; Infusion; Nutrient elements; Stimulants