Abstract

Monsonia burkeana is widely used as herbal tea in South Africa. However, the accumulative capabilities (ACs) of its organs for essential nutrient elements are not documented. A study was conducted to determine the ACs for nutrient elements in fruit, leaf, stem and root of M. burkeana. Ten plants per plot, with three replicates, were harvested whole, oven-dried separately into the four organs and quantified for selected essential nutrient elements. On average, the increasing order of macronutrients in various organs was as follows; fruit = Ca >N > K > P > Mg, leaf = Ca > N > K > P ≥ Mg, stem = K > Ca > N > P ≥ Mg and root = K > N > Ca > P ≥ Mg. In contrast, for micronutrients the order was as follows; fruit = Cl > Fe > Mn > Cu > Zn > B, leaf = Cl > Cu > Fe > Zn > Mn > B, stem = Cl > Cu > Fe > Mn > Zn > B and root = Fe > Cl > Cu > Mn > Zn > B. In conclusion, the ACs for essential nutrient elements differed, with the reproductive and vegetative organs having high ACs for macro-nutrients, whereas, roots had high ACs for micro-nutrients. Herbal tea fromM. burkeana leaves has the potential to provide the dietary essential nutrient element requirements.

Key words: Accumulative capability, Monsonia burkeana, essential nutrient elements, traditional medicine.