Abstract
The total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents of the small, large and cauline leaves and small and large stems of miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata ) plants which had been irrigated with tap water or a soluble fertilizer were extracted and measured using HPLC chromatography. Overall, all plant parts of miner’s lettuce analyzed contained high levels of total and soluble oxalates; however plants irrigated with fertilizer contained lower levels of oxalates compared with plants irrigated with water. On a dry matter basis, the small leaves contained higher levels of total oxalate when compared to the total oxalate in the large leaves. Soluble oxalate in the leaves of plants irrigated with water ranged from 2.6 to 7.5 mg/100g dry matter (DM) and was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the leaves of the fertilizer-watered plants, which ranged from 1.8 to 2.8 mg/100g DM. The soluble oxalate in the small and large stems of the fertilizer-watered plants ranged from 1.20 to 1.5 mg/100g DM and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the water-treated small and large stems, which ranged from 3.75 to 4.4 mg/100g DM. It is recommended that the leaves of miner’s lettuce should be consumed in moderation.
Highlights
Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd) sometimes called winter purslane, is a group of interrelated and interbreeding plants
Analysis of oxalate content found in different plant fractions of miner’s lettuce irrigated with water or fertilizer solutions was carried out to compare the distribution of oxalates in each of the edible plant parts
The dry matter contents (Table 1) of all the plant parts were higher in the fertilizer-watered plants compared to the tap water irrigated plants
Summary
Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd) sometimes called winter purslane, is a group of interrelated and interbreeding plants. The plants have a pair of single leaves that are opposite each other and separated by a flowering branch. Some leaves are fused completely into a perfoliate disc known as a cauline leaf, just below the flower stalk [1]. Miner’s lettuce was used as a food by many early North American set-. The leaves, stems and blossoms of miner’s lettuce are rich in calcium, vitamin C and proteins [2]. Miner’s lettuce is thought to have some medicinal properties. Miner’s lettuce has a mild taste and is commonly mixed with other salad leaves, such as lettuce or spinach or with dry mustard, paprika, garlic, cloves etc. Cooked miner’s lettuce can be used in stir fries, pasta dishes, combined with sorrel to make pesto and made into a fruity miner’s lettuce smoothie with the addition of berries, pears and bananas [5]
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