Element analysis of dried figs (Ficus carica L.) from the Mediterranean areas

Abstract

The minerals content of 36 dried figs samples collected from three Mediterranean areas in 2018 was presented in this study. The aim of this research was to evaluate whether the mineral elements amounts were significantly different among the production regions. Samples grown in Italy, Greece and Turkey were analyzed in this study. Samples were found to be a good source of potassium (average content between 3.5 ± 0.2 g kg−1 and 8.12 ± 0.88 g kg−1), calcium (between 1.46 ± 0.24 g kg−1 and 4.49 ± 0.28 g kg−1), magnesium (between 0.84 ± 0.04 g kg−1 and 1.28 ± 0.15 g kg−1), and sodium (between 0.45 ± 0.04 g kg−1 and 0.70 ± 0.11 g kg−1). Cadmium ad lead concentrations were always below the regulated values and below the quantification limit in all Italian samples, whereas chromium was detected in all samples from Greece (0.05 ± 0.01 mg kg−1) and Turkey (0.03 ± 0.01 mg kg−1), and in 65 % of samples from Italy (0.08 ± 0.02 mg kg−1). Results confirm the good figs quality related to their essential trace elements content and they highlight the safety of these food products correlated to the intake of toxic elements. Furthermore, statistical analysis of the results pointed out that the mineral elements amount is significantly different among the three sample groups, hence it is possible to discriminate figs according to their geographical origin by PCA.