Abstract
Summary The levels of the major (Ca, K, Na, Mg), trace (Fe, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co), and toxic (Pb, Cd) metals in the seeds of fenugreek cultivated in different regions of Ethiopia were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). Wet ashing was used to digest 0.5 g of fenugreek seed flour using 1.5 mL of HNO3 and HClO4 acid mixtures (5:1 ratio), 30 min pre-digestion time, 45 min total digestion time and a temperature of 150 °C. Thirteen elements were determined, obtaining concentrations in the following ranges: Ca (15353-36771 mg kg-1) > Fe (6041-18584 mg kg-1) ≈ K (6789-11517 mg kg-1) > Pb (615-2624 mg kg-1) > Na (201-1559 mg kg-1) > Cd (285-464 mg kg-1) > Cr (3-552 mg kg-1) > Ni (31-108 mg kg-1) > Mg (31-102 mg kg-1) > Zn (15-33 mg kg-1) > Mn (16-28 mg kg-1) > Cu (ND-35 mg kg-1) > Co (4-15 mg kg-1). A statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 95% confidence level revealed there were significant differences between the mean metal contents of fourteen sample means, except for Zn. Pearson’s correlation revealed weak positive or negative linear relationships, which implies that the presence of one metal did not affect the presence of the other metals within the plant, except for a few metals. The study showed that fenugreek seeds were a good source of essential metals. However, they also contained large amounts of the toxic metals Cd and Pb and therefore should not be consumed daily.
Highlights
Trigonella foenum-graecum is native to Ethiopia and to the area from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia, and is widely cultivated in Pakistan, India and China (ZIA et al, 2003; BEKELE, 2007; CHANDRASHEKHAR; KHADSE, 2010)
The concentrations of the major elements, i.e. Ca, K, Na and Mg in the fenugreek seed samples were found in the ranges from 1553-36771 mg kg-1, 6789-11517 mg kg-1, 201-1559 mg kg-1 and 31-102 mg kg-1; respectively
Unlike other spices studied in Ethiopia, the concentrations of the toxic metals Pb and Cd were found to be much higher in the fenugreek seeds
Summary
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) is native to Ethiopia and to the area from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia, and is widely cultivated in Pakistan, India and China (ZIA et al, 2003; BEKELE, 2007; CHANDRASHEKHAR; KHADSE, 2010). Fenugreek seeds contain about 50% fibre and contain protein, saponins and the hypoglycemic phytochemicals coumarin, fenugreekine, nicotinic acid, phytic acid, scopoletin and trigonelline (ASFAW; DEMISSEW, 2009; HEDBERG; EDWARDS, 1989; FATIMA et al, 2005) and 4-hydroxyisoleucine (HEDBERG; EDWARDS, 1989). Fenugreek seeds have high contents of iron, calcium, zinc (LEIGH BROADHURST, 1997), lysins and β-carotene (EFSA, 2010) and are a rich source of flavonoid compounds such as quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, tricin and gallic acid. Many workers have reported the antioxidant potential of fenugreek (EIBEN et al, 2004)
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