The Proximate, Mineral and Amino Acid Composition of Spring, Autumn Leaves and Roots of Eryngium caeruleum M.Bieb

Eryngium caeruleum M.Bieb. (Syn. Eryngium caucasicum Trautv.)belongs to Apiaceae family. It is found abundantly in northern provinces of Iran as an edible plant. Hundreds of years ago, Eryngium genus was known as a medicinal herb in Persian medicine books which was named “Qaracaane” and the plant’s roots were used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional parameters in roots, spring and autumn leaves of E. caucasicum for the first time.

The parameters including proximate composition (protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, ash, moisture and calorie) were measured by the standard methods of the AOAC, mineral contents (iron, zinc, copper and manganese) were measured by atomic absorption and amino acid contents was measured by RP-HPLC.

Regarding the results, it was found that the autumn leaves showed the highest amount of fiber, protein, moisture, zinc, copper and manganese. Also, spring leaves contained the highest levels of calorie, while the roots showed much more ash, carbohydrate and iron content. In terms of amino acids contents, threonine was the dominant among the rest of essential amino acids in all investigated parts of E. caeruleum. The results showed that both the aerial parts and the roots of Eryngium caeruleum could be good sources of nutritional ingredients.

According to the obtained results it can be concluded that E. caeruleum has the capacity for prospective production of new natural medicinal supplements in order to improve body health and prevent or treat diseases.