Chemical composition of some edible wild plants grown in Eastern Anatolia

Abstract

Eastern Anatolia region, especially Van city with distinguished microclimate, has rich plant diversity in Turkey where Arum elongatum Steven subsp. detruncatum (C.A.Mey. ex Schott.) H. Riedl, Capsella bursa – pastoris (L.) Medik and Gundelia tournefortii L. var. tournefortii are of well-known and abundantly used species in local cuisine. It is a common phenomenon throughout the world that wild edible plants are good source for minerals and they have useful effects on human health. In this point of view, commonly used wild edible plants mentioned above were analyzed for their nutritive value and mineral compositions. After biological identification, plants were dried under shade and prepared for chemical analysis. Dry matter, total ash, % N, crude protein, crude fibre and pH were determined in the used plants’ parts. Additionally, mineral components that are useful or hazardous for human health of the samples were analyzed. Gundelia tournefortii L. var. tournefortii was the richest in investigated traits among the taxa searched. Arum elongatum Steven subsp. detruncatum (C.A.Mey. ex Schott.) H. Riedl had also much more minerals. Lowest values were obtained from Capsella bursa – pastoris (L.) Medik. Analyzed plant species had good levels of useful chemical composition and lower values for heavy metals.