Trace elements in Taiwanese health food, Angelica keiskei, and other products

Epithermal and instrumental neutron activation analysis (ENAA & INAA) revealed the presence of more than a dozen elements in fresh leaves, and stems of the Taiwanese health food product, “Angelica keiskei AK”. AK was sampled from five main planted areas in central Taiwan to ensure diversity. This research employed ENAA to identify Al, As, Br, Cl, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, and Sm and INAA to identify Cr, Fe, Rb, Sc, and Zn. Some of these elements are classified as either toxic or essential to humans. The elemental concentrations mentioned above were found to vary from 104 to 10−2 μg/g, among different planted areas. A quantified index of agreement (AT) was introduced to help to classify the elements. A smaller AT indicated a close consistency of the specific trace element in the AK, while a bigger AT indicated a larger fluctuation, or less agreement. The different ATs in various fresh leaves and stems were considered and the values closely matched previously published data.