Estimation of minerals from edible weeds in Malaysia

Eleven wild edible weeds namely Piper sarmentosum, Gynura procumbens, Stenochlaena palustris, Persicaria odorata, Piper betle, Paiederia foetida, Passiflora foetida, Portulaca oleracea, Clinacanthus nutans, Amaranthus viridis, and Plantago major. were collected and analysed for essential minerals. The analyses were done in the laboratories of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli campus using AAS machine to estimate the content of zinc, ferum, magnesium, calcium and manganese. It was noticed that Piper sarmentosum has the highest content of zinc (0.343 ppm). Plantago major has the highest ferum content (2.186 ppm). The highest magnesium content (1572.0 ppm) and calcium (4476.0 ppm) contents are found in Amaranthus viridis. Persicaria odorata has the highest manganese content (19.220 ppm). These weeds can be tested further and consumed in our daily diet as cooked or raw in salad.