Authors
Title
Abstract
There were analyzed tree saps of eight tree species: silver birch – Betula pendula, downy birch – Betula pubescens, common hornbeam – Carpinus betulus, Norway maple – Acer platanoides, sycamore maple – Acer pseudoplatanus, field maple – Acer campestre, boxelder maple – Acer negundo, and silver maple – Acer saccharinum). The contents of the following inorganic anions were determined: chlorides, nitrates (V), sulphates (VI), and phosphates (V) as well as of the following minerals: copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. The highest average content of chlorides (32.68 mg·l-1) and sulphates (21.8 mg·l-1) was determined in common hornbeam saps, whereas of magnesium (18.96 mg·l-1) and calcium (30.52 mg·l-1) in field maple saps. The highest average content of phosphates (114.53 mg·l-1), copper (1.45 mg·l-1), and nitrates (25.99 mg·l-1) was detected in boxelder maple saps. The highest average contents of zinc (1.85 mg·l-1) and sodium (0.59 mg·l-1) were found in the silver birch saps,. The Norway maple tree saps, in turn, were characterized by the highest average content of potassium (82.15 mg·l-1). The results obtained were compared with the nutrition standards in force in Poland. They indicate that tree saps could be a valuable source of minerals, especially of copper and zinc, and to a lesser degree, of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. At the same time, it was reported that the ingredients showing a potentially adverse impact on human health, i.e. inorganic anions: nitrates(V), sulphates(VI), and sodium, present a negligible risk.
Keywords
tree saps, inorganic anions, minerals, nutrition standards