doiSerbia

Element accumulation capacity of Vaccinium myrtillus from Montenegro: Comparison of element contents in water and ethanol extracts of bilberry plant parts

Brašanac-Vukanović Snežana (University of Montenegro, Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Tadić Vanja M. (Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr Josif Pančić”, Belgrade)
Blagojević Nada (University of Montenegro, Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Vukašinović-Pešić Vesna (University of Montenegro, Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Đurđić Slađana (Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade)
Stanković Milica (Faculty of Medicine Niš)
Mutić Jelena (Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade + Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea)

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae) is a rich source of different mineral elements that are important as essential trace elements, or that can be potentially toxic, depending on their concentration. The contents of sixteen elements: the major (Al, Ca, Fe, K and Mg) and trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn) in roots, stems, leaves and fruits of bilberry and the corresponding soil substrate were determined in order to investigate element mobility and availability in soil. Soil was subjected to sequential extraction procedure as proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference in order to fractionate acid-soluble/exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable and residual fractions. Analysis of water and ethanol extracts of bilberry aerial parts revealed a significant transfer of elements during the extraction procedure, with corresponding extraction coefficient values of up to 95.12%. Results showed that bilberry fruits could serve as a good dietary source of essential elements for humans, especially Mn and Cu.

Keywords: Vaccinium myrtillus, wild bilberry, extraction coefficients, ethanol extracts, daily metal intake

Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 45017 and Grant no. OI 172030