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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Preparation of Food Samples Using Homogenization and Microwave-Assisted Wet Acid Digestion for Multi-Element Determination with ICP-MS
Published on: December 22, 2023
[Simultaneous determination of trace elements in mistletoe by ICP-AES]
1The Key Laboratory of Food Science of MOE, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China. liti@ncu.edu.cn
This study developed a method to measure essential elements like potassium and calcium in mistletoe. The findings reveal mistletoe is rich in key minerals, providing valuable data for further research.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Plant Science
- Biogeochemistry
Context:
- Mistletoe is a plant with traditional medicinal uses, but its elemental composition is not fully understood.
- Accurate elemental analysis is crucial for understanding plant physiology and potential applications.
Purpose:
- To develop and validate a method for the simultaneous determination of ten elements (Cu, Mg, Zn, Mn, Ni, Se, K, Na, Ca, Fe) in mistletoe.
- To assess the accuracy and precision of the developed analytical method using the standard addition technique.
Summary:
- A method involving nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) was optimized for mistletoe analysis.
- The method achieved high recoveries (90.8%-112.8%) and low relative standard deviations (0.47%-4.59% for n=5), demonstrating its reliability.
- Analysis revealed that mistletoe is particularly rich in potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na).
Impact:
- Provides a validated analytical method for elemental profiling of mistletoe.
- Establishes a baseline elemental composition for mistletoe, particularly highlighting its high content of essential macroelements.
- Offers critical scientific data to support future research into mistletoe's biological activities and potential nutraceutical or pharmaceutical applications.
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