[Studies on the contents of twenty elements in different parts of garlic by using ICP-OES, AAS and AFS combined with microwave decomposition method].

ABSTRACT

The garlic plants sampled in the suburbs of Suzhou were rinsed thoroughly with deionized water, and divided into six different parts root, low stem, middle stem, high stem, tender leaves and old leaves. After decomposition in a microwave oven, the contents of Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se, Sr and Zn in these parts were determined by using ICP-OES, AAS and AFS, and the contents of these 20 elements in garlic bulbs collected from the same location were also determined. It was found that the tender leaves or the bulbs of garlic should be chosen preferably for the extraction of active compounds, because they are much richer in Cu, Fe, Mn, S, Se and Zn elements and rather low in harmful As, Cd, Hg and Pb elements as compared with other parts of garlic. The contents of 20 elements are varied in six different parts of garlic, from which some useful conclusions can be drawn concerning either physiological properties of garlic or situations of atmosphere contamination.