Heavy metals, trace elements, minerals and ascorbic acid content of occasionally consumed eight indigenous fruits in Bangladesh

Motalab, M. and Mumtaz, B. and Mohajan, S. and Saha B.K., B.K. and Jahan, S. (2022) Heavy metals, trace elements, minerals and ascorbic acid content of occasionally consumed eight indigenous fruits in Bangladesh. Food Research (Malaysia), 6. pp. 403-411. ISSN 2550-2166

Herein, a study was carried out to assess the nutritional potential of eight indigenous fruits namely sapodilla, stone apple, bilimbi, amla, litchi, strawberry, tamarind, elephant-apple particularly on the basis of heavy metal, mineral and ascorbic acid content along with the physicochemical properties. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) analysis were performed to determine the essential trace elements and heavy metals in the selected fruits, whereas sodium and potassium content was determined by flame-photometer. Even though the essential trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and cobalt were found in all the examined fruits, sapodilla, stone apple and tamarind were observed as a rich source of selenium and cobalt. The current research demonstrated the presence of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in elephant-apple, sapodilla, stone apple and tamarind in trace levels which are below the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). All the selected eight fruits are found as rich sources of macro-minerals for instance sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Ascorbic acid was estimated by HPLC which ranged from 4.10 to 475.0 mg/100 g of edible portion and the highest amount was found in amla. In summary, these fruits could be potential sources of macro and micro-minerals and safe from toxic heavy metal contamination. The nutritional data observed in the present study would be played a promising role in dietary recommendation, nutritional education, training, research, and food supplementation.

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Abstract

Herein, a study was carried out to assess the nutritional potential of eight indigenous fruits namely sapodilla, stone apple, bilimbi, amla, litchi, strawberry, tamarind, elephant-apple particularly on the basis of heavy metal, mineral and ascorbic acid content along with the physicochemical properties. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) analysis were performed to determine the essential trace elements and heavy metals in the selected fruits, whereas sodium and potassium content was determined by flame-photometer. Even though the essential trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and cobalt were found in all the examined fruits, sapodilla, stone apple and tamarind were observed as a rich source of selenium and cobalt. The current research demonstrated the presence of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in elephant-apple, sapodilla, stone apple and tamarind in trace levels which are below the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). All the selected eight fruits are found as rich sources of macro-minerals for instance sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Ascorbic acid was estimated by HPLC which ranged from 4.10 to 475.0 mg/100 g of edible portion and the highest amount was found in amla. In summary, these fruits could be potential sources of macro and micro-minerals and safe from toxic heavy metal contamination. The nutritional data observed in the present study would be played a promising role in dietary recommendation, nutritional education, training, research, and food supplementation.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	fruits
AGROVOC Term:	ascorbic acid
AGROVOC Term:	minerals
AGROVOC Term:	heavy metals
AGROVOC Term:	trace elements
AGROVOC Term:	Averrhoa bilimbi
AGROVOC Term:	Tamarindus
AGROVOC Term:	food analysis
AGROVOC Term:	chemical analysis
AGROVOC Term:	food safety
Geographical Term:	Bangladesh
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	19 Feb 2026 06:46
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2026 06:46
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3429

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