MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF FIELD MUSTARD (Sinapis Arvensis L.) GROWING WILD IN KOSOVO

The plants of field mustard Sinapis arvensis (L.), is a plant which is quite widespread in Kosovo, and as such has been used as a medicinal plant for various health treatments. The plant Sinapis arvensis (L.) was collected in central part of Kosovo, with the aim to analyse the mineral content, analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (SAA). Since the plant has been used as a medicinal plant, we wanted to research its mineral composition. The macro and microelements present in the plant Sinapis arvensis (L.) have been investigated. Nine elements, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were determined at root, flower, leaves, seeds and stalk of Sinapis arvensis (L.). The results show, differences among different parts of Sinapis arvensis (L.) related to the mineral composition. The Sinapis arvensis (L.) contains large amounts of potassium in stalk (2.667 mg/100 g), flower (2.055 mg/100 g) and in root (1.858 mg/100 g), but on leaf and seeds the amount of potassium was smaller. The amount of sodium in all parts of Sinapis arvensis (L.) is almost same. In the leaves of Sinapis arvensis (L.) content of calcium was highest (1.514 mg/100 g), seeds (671 mg/100 g) and less in flowers (644 mg/100 g). The amount of manganese in flower were (0.5 mg/100 g) and highest in leaves (1.6 mg/100 g). However, Sinapis arvensis (L.) contains large amounts of iron in root (70.2 mg/100 g), while amount of iron in leaves, seeds and stalk is with slight differences. Also in flowers the amount of iron is very small (4.4 mg/100 g). The data shows that the amount of the elements lead and cadmium are below the limit of the detection. In general Sinapis arvensis (L.) contained more potassium and calcium than other elements.