Essential and non-essential elements in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) cultivated in Southern Italy

Abstract

We assessed the presence of V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sb, Cd, and Pb in white lupin samples cultivated in Southern Italy by the validation of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The ICP-MS method validation showed satisfactory values of linearity (r² > 0.999), recovery (87.4–100.7%), repeatability, and reproducibility values. Zinc was the most abundant element; showing mean concentrations of 0.778 ± 0.09 mg/Kg wet weight (w.w.) and a maximum of 1.013 mg/Kg w.w., followed by copper (0.191 ± 0.05 mg/Kg w.w.). Among the non-essential elements, important levels of cadmium were found (0.017 ± 0.004 mg/Kg w.w.), with 28% exceeding the limits set by the EU Regulation. The results of this work confirm the role of white lupins and other legumes in reducing the pH of the soil, increasing the exchangeable forms of Cd. This work also provides the first data on the nutritional and antinutritional properties of white lupins cultivated in Italy.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• ICP-MS
• legumes
• mineral elements
• white lupin

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Carmelo Bongiorno, Dr. Valeria Vitale Badaco, Mr. Rosario Salonia and Mr. Antonio Lastra for the technical support during the sampling plan and the English writing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.