title: Content of micronutrients, mineral and trace elements in some Mediterranean spontaneous edible herbs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The analysis of mineral elements composition was determined in three wild edible herbs (Cichorium intybus L., Sonchus asper L. and Borago officinalis) collected in seven different sampling sites which were characterized by different pollution grade. The detection of mineral elements (Ca, K, Mg and Na), micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Li, Mn and Zn) and heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained show that in most cases a direct relationship appeared between the amount of elements and the sampling sites. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in samples grown in polluted soils. These evaluations showed that contaminants in plants may reflect the environmental state in which they develop.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The examined species are a good source of mineral elements and micronutrients, making them particularly adapt to integrate a well-balanced diet. The accumulation of heavy metals showed that contaminants in plants may reflect the environmental state in which they develop. Results showed high concentrations of heavy metals in samples taken in locations characterized by high human activity and in some samples from the local market, of which no one knows the collection area.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stasio
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siano
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy ; Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, Via Francesco de Sanctis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Sezione di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Marco
keywords: Edible; Food analysis; Heavy metals; Micronutrients; Mineral elements; Pollution; Wild herbs