Proximate composition and characterization of the vitamins and minerals of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from the Middle Doce River region - Minas Gerais, Brazil

Lionardo Conte de Almeida; Maiara Rodrigues Salvador; Helena Maria Pinheiro-Sant'Ana; Ceres Mattos Della Lucia; Reinaldo Duque Brasil Landulfo Teixeira; Leandro de Morais Cardoso

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11949

Proximate composition and characterization of the vitamins and minerals of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from the Middle Doce River region - Minas Gerais, Brazil

Heliyon. 2022 Nov 29;8(12):e11949. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11949. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Lionardo Conte de Almeida¹, Maiara Rodrigues Salvador², Helena Maria Pinheiro-Sant'Ana³, Ceres Mattos Della Lucia³, Reinaldo Duque Brasil Landulfo Teixeira⁴, Leandro de Morais Cardoso¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil.
² Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil.
³ Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viҫosa, Viҫosa, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Basic Life Sciences, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and the vitamin, carotenoid, and mineral profile in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) collected from the Middle Doce River region (Médio Rio Doce) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. To accomplish this, the physicochemical parameters, such as titratable acidity, pH, and soluble solids were determined, in addition to the evaluation of the plants' proximate composition (moisture, ash, proteins, dietary fibers, and lipids). The vitamin E, carotenoids and vitamin C were determined by HPLC and the minerals were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The T. officinale samples presented a low content of macronutrients, a total energy value of 27.88 kcal.100 g^-1 FW, a high fiber content (3.7 g.100 g^-1 FW), low levels of total vitamin E (43.67 μg.100 g^-1 FW), total carotenoids of 11.95 g.100 g^-1 FW, and did not present vitamin C in detectable levels. The mineral analysis revealed a high concentration of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium, and small amounts or traces of aluminium, cadmium, nickel, and chromium. In conclusion, T. officinale was shown to be an important source of nutrients, especially fiber, iron and manganese.

Keywords: Nutritional profile; Physical characteristics; Proximate analysis; Unconventional food plant.