Multielemental composition and nutritional value of "dumosa" (Ilex dumosa), "yerba mate" (I. paraguariensis) and their commercial mixture in different forms of use

The multielement composition and nutritional value of "dumosa" (Ilex dumosa) (ID),"yerba mate" (I. paraguariensis) (IP) and their commercial 70:30 mixture (ID:IP, w/w) in crude drug, brewed mate and tea-bag-like infusion were studied by ICP-OES. Thismethod allowed the detection of an unprecedented number of elements for thesespecies. The order was K;Ca;Mg;P;Mn;Al;Na;Si;Fe in crude drug. IP showed higherconcentration of minerals than ID, but most extractability in the latter largely offset itsshortcomings. Brewed mate had higher nutritional value than mate tea because theirhigher solute/solvent ratio. A portion of brewed mate of both species exceeded the dailyrecommended intake (DRI) of Mn, and providing Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and K, too. The portions ofmate tea not contribute significantly to the DRI. Some essential trace elements and manyultra-traces ones that exist in crude drug were not detected in aqueous extracts. Most ofthe heavy metals were not leached into extracts, and in any case never exceeded internationalsafety limits. Therefore, the aqueous extracts of ID and IP and its mixture areinteresting from the nutritional point of view in minerales, and safe in terms of health.