Mineral Contents and Bioactive Properties of Centaura spp. Leave and Seeds

The mineral contents of Centaura leave and seeds were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Macro element concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg and S) of samples were found at high levels. K was established at high level in both leave and seed samples of Centaurea. While K contents of leaves changes between 7254.10 mg/kg (Centaurea lycaonica) and 26396.36 mg/kg (Centaurea pterocaula), it ranged from 6242.22 mg/kg (Centaurea salicifolia) to 15182.07 mg/kg (Centaurea cariensis). Ca contents of leaves changed between 6268.70 mg/kg (Centaurea derderiifolia) and 23471.24 mg/kg (Centaurea stapfiana). The same element was found between 1963.45 mg/kg (Centaurea salicifolia) and 12470.46 mg/kg (Centaurea stapfiana). Fe contents of leaves changed between 55.52 mg/kg (Centaurea cariensis Boiss. subsp. longipapposa) and 502.47 mg/kg (Centaurea salicifolia). Na content ranged from 324.27 mg/kg (Centaurea cariensis) to 4938.52 mg/kg (Centaurea cariensis). Anthocyanin contents of leaves ranged from 16.3 µmol/g (Centaurea kizildaghensis) to 109.3 µmol/g (Centaurea stapfiana). While total phenolic contents of leaves change between 693.5 mg gallic acid/g extract and 826.3 mg gallic acid/g extract, total phenolic content of seeds ranged from 655.1 mg  gallic acid/g extract (Centaurea derderiifolia) to 1342.0 mg gallic acid/g extract (Centaurea cariensis Boiss. subsp. longipapposa). Total flavonoid contents of Centaurea leaves changed between 49.2 mg catechol/g (Centaurea nigrofimbria) to 157.5 mg catechol/g (Centaurea pterocaula).