The study of the elemental composition of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Abstract

Using the method of atomic emission spectrometry the qualitative composition and quantitative content of elements in the raw material (leaves, stalks, flowers) of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) collected at different stages of vegetation have been determined. It has been found that leaves, stalks, flowers have identical elemental composition: 5 macro-, 10 micro- and 4 ultramicroelements concerning the qualitative aspect. For macroelements the regularity of increase in the content at the stages of vegetation was observed. There is the following regularity of the elemental content for the raw material: leaves and flowers – K > Ca > Si > Mg > P > Na, stalks – K > Ca > Mg > Si > P > Na. The highest content of potassium has been determined in all types of the raw material. The content of this element in stalk is 3340-5050 mg/kg, and it is higher compared to leaves by 1.2-1.5 times (2850-3354 mg/kg), compared to flowers – by 1.1-1.3 times (3000-4000 mg/kg). In leaves, stalks and flowers the considerable content of calcium (1350-1700 mg/kg, 1000-1576 mg/kg, 1007-1345 mg/kg, respectively), silicоn (1299-1400 mg/kg, 470-500 mg/kg, 1000-1130 mg/kg, respectively) and magnesium (8000-1086 mg/kg, 759-800 mg/kg, 897-905 mg/kg, respectively) has been found. The content of such elements as molybdenum, cobalt and lead is lower than 0.03 mg/kg, arsenic, cadmium and mercury is lower than 0.01 mg/kg. The considerable content of such elements as calcium, silicоn and magnesium in the types of the raw material studied indicates that leaves, stalks and flowers of summer squash can be a source for obtaining BAS. Nowadays despite a variety of synthetic medicines used in medical practice herbal drugs enjoy wide popularity. Our attention was drawn by summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), a melon plant. The plant is officinal, seeds are used as the raw material and an effective helminthagogue [7, 8]. By the power of the pharmacological action the seeds of summer squash yield to the raw material of a male fern, but they do not show toxic effect on the organism. It is also known that the pulp of summer squash increases the biliary excretion, improves the function of intestines in spastic colitis [2], intensifies the water-salt exchange, the renal filtration function, provides intensive release of chloride ions by the kidneys (promotes urination), has antioxidant properties, is an irreplaceable product in dietary food [10, 13]. The chemical composition of the officinal raw mate rial is rather studied. The seeds contain fatty oil (about 20%), phytosterol cucurbitol, resinous substances, organic acids, vitamins of group B, ascorbic acid. The pulp contains sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), organic acids (mainly malic), carotene (up to 6 mg%), ascorbic (8-20 mg%), folic (14 mg%), pantothenic (0.4 mg%) and nicotinic (0.5 mg%) acids, vitamins B 1 , B 2 , B 6 (0.13 mg%), a significant amount of mineral substances (potassium, cal cium, phosphorus, iron, copper, fluorine , zinc) [6, 9, 11]. Data on the chemical composition of stalks, leaves and flowers of summer squash is fragmentary. It is known that leaves contain up to 620 mg% of ascorbic acid, vitamins of group B, 438 mg% of potassium, 43 mg% of calcium, 38 mg% of magnesium and not less than 7 mineral compounds, flowers have flavonoids and xantho phylls – cryptocapsin, zeaxanthin, flavoxanthin [5].