Macro, trace and toxic elements of 4 different edible wild plants from Karadeniz Region

The study was conducted to assess the content (mg kg-1 fresh wt.) of macro, trace and toxic elements in the 4 different edible wild plants. The percentage of dry matter and ash ranged from 6.77 to 20.56 and 0.79 to 2.26, respectively. The contents of Ca (1074), Fe (160.5), Mn (18.21), Ni (6.11), B (2.61), Cr (0.93), Co (0.50), Mo (1.80), Be (0.009) and Se (0.076) of U. diocia were richer than in other plants. Other hand, K (7742), Mg (954), Al (10.79), V (9.77) and Ag (0.109) in T. orientalis, Zn (12.47), Cu (9.98) and Ba (130.3) in O. umbellatum were taken the highest value. Also As, Hg, Tl, Cd and Pb were determined mg kg-1 level in fresh plants. Conversely, antimony (Sb) in wild plants could not be detected by ICP-MS. The results of statistical analysis of forty plants showed that moisture, total dry matter, ash, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ba, Ni, Al, V, B, Cr, Co, Mo, Be, Se, Ag, As, Tl, Cd and Pb contents were varied significantly compared to plant species except for Na and Hg (p<0.05). Consequently, wild plants may be used as popular vegetables in many people diet as a source of minerals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Cr, Mo, K, Zn and Mg). Excessive plant consumption may be adversely affected human health with Cd, As, Hg, Tl and Pb