Assessment of microelements in six varieties of sesame seeds using ICP-MS

Sesame seeds are being used since long time worldwide and particularly in China as a food ingredient. However, insufficient information is available with micro mineral concentrations in different varieties of sesame seeds. The study compared the mineral composition in six varieties of black and white sesame seeds in China. Eleven trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo and Ba) were quantified on inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after closed-vessel microwave digestion. In general, average levels of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ba in selected varieties ranged 1.07-7.40 mg/100 g, based on dry weight of the samples. Nevertheless, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Se and Mo were found at lower concentrations (<0.14 mg/100 g). The average concentrations of Mn, Fe and Zn in black sesame varieties were higher than that of the white varieties. No significant variation was noted for V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Se, Mo and Ba contents between black and white sesame seeds. On the whole, black varieties of sesame exhibited similar levels of investigated elements, which could be helpful to suggest the consumption value of sesame seeds based on mineral contents. (paper)