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3271177 
Journal Article 
Plants as a natural source of concentrated mineral nutritional supplements 
Elless, MP; Blaylock, MJ; Huang, JW; Gussman, CD 
2000 
Yes 
Food Chemistry
ISSN: 0308-8146
EISSN: 1873-7072 
Elsevier 
71 
2 
181-188 
WOS:000089542200004 
Edible plants enhanced with minerals were tested to
determine whether these plants could be used as a new source of mineral dietary supplements that
provide essential minerals in a more available form than current, inorganically based mineral
supplements. A select cultivar of Brassica juncea was identified that can be cultivated under
hydroponic conditions to contain high levels of nutritionally important minerals such as Cr, Fe,
Mn, Se, and Zn. Sequential extraction, simulated gastric fluid digestion, and simulated
intestinal fluid digestion were used to assess the degree of solubility and potential
availability of each metal examined. Results from these solubility experiments indicate that the
accumulated trace elements achieve greater soluble concentrations than those provided in popular
mineral supplements. The consistent high concentration of minerals in the edible plant tissue
allows processing small quantities of these enriched plants into capsules or tablets that supply
100% of the recommended daily intake of these elements in soluble form from a natural, vegetative
source. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 
nutraceuticals; Brassica juncea; bioavailability; mineral supplements