The Study on Mineral Elements inMicroula sikkimensisfrom the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Microula sikkimensis is a plant rich in γ-linolenic acid. In the present study, samples of M. sikkimensis were digested using a closed-vessel microwave, after which they were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference material of spinach. The study involved 20 samples that were collected in Qinghai–Tibet area. The relative mean concentrations of the 17 elements were as follows: K > Ca > P > Mg > Fe > Al > Na > Ba > Sr > Mn > Zn > B > Ti > Cu > Mo > Ni > Cr. The method is stable and reliable and the results are satisfactory. It is suitable for determination of the concentrations of trace elements in M. sikkimensis. Principal components analysis was applied to study the characteristic elements in M. sikkimensis and six principal components that accounted for 92.15% of the total variance were extracted from the original data. The first two components represented 51.27% of the total variability, indicating...