Determination of 15 elements in Ottelia acuminata by microwave digestion and ICP-OES.

Ottelia acuminata, an aquatic plant, is a common edible plant and also a sensitive environmental indicator in Yunnan province, China. To evaluate its food safety and efficiency of environmental indicator, the concentrations of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus (major elements) and iron, zinc, boron, chromium, manganese, selenium, copper, cobalt, lead and cadmium (minor elements) in Ottelia acuminata of different origins were measured and compared by microwave digestion and inductively coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–OES). The results were expressed as µg/g of dry weight. Our results demonstrated that O. acuminata was a good source of K, Na, Ca, Mg and P, and it was a typical high potassium and low sodium vegetable. In addition, O. acuminata was rich in beneficial trace elements of Fe, B, Zn, Cr, Mn, Se and Cu. From the perspective of consumption, O. acuminata was a healthy green food. On the other hand, it was not to neglected that environmental pollution could cause the enrichment of harmful element Pb in Ottelia acuminata. From the perspective of environment protection, O. acuminata could be used to remove the harmful lead in water.