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. 2025 Mar 12;73(10):6189-6204.
doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c10940. Epub 2025 Feb 28.

Evaluation of the Bioaccessibility of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in Basil, Peppermint, and Rosemary Using an In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion Model

Sylwia Sajkowska  1   2 , Justyna Moskwa  3 , Katarzyna Socha  3 , Barbara Leśniewska  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of the Bioaccessibility of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in Basil, Peppermint, and Rosemary Using an In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion Model

Sylwia Sajkowska et al. J Agric Food Chem. .

Abstract

Herbs, well-known for their antioxidant properties, are a common component of the human diet. In this work, for the first time, the bioaccessibility of essential (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, and Se) and toxic trace elements (Ni, Cd, As, Pb, and Hg) in spice plants: basil, peppermint, and rosemary was studied using an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process and artificial dialysis membranes. The different forms of plants, fresh, lyophilized, and dried (as spice and dietary supplements), were analyzed. The results show that the bioaccessibility of elements depends on the type of plants, their form, and origin. Relatively high bioaccessibility of Cu (24-84%), Mn (39-52%), and Zn (8-43%) was observed in fresh and lyophilized herbs. The lowest value was obtained for Fe (<2%) in all herbs. The lyophilization process did not affect the trace elements' bioaccessibility in herbs. The total phenolic content was positively correlated with the total content of elements in all tested spice plants.

Keywords: ICP–MS; artificial dialysis membrane; enzymatic digestion; essential elements; lyophilization; spice plants; total phenolic content.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Analytical procedure for plants’ in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Contribution of elements in the dialyzable and nondialyzable fractions of various forms of basil, peppermint, and rosemary. Figure for Fe has changed maximum scale due to the low content of this element in the dialyzable fraction (<1%).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Bioaccessibility of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, and Pb from basil, peppermint, and rosemary in various forms (fresh, lyophilizate, dried, and dietary supplement) obtained following the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Heatmap of elements’ bioaccessibility from basil, peppermint, and rosemary in various forms (fresh, lyophilizate, dried, and dietary supplement).
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