Assessment of the nutritional value of a wild edible plant Scorzonera Papposa DC. collected from Kirkuk-Iraq

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are designated as functional foods owing to their nutritional potential and as a source of bioactive compounds vital for human health. In the present assays, several chemical studies have been performed individually on both the aerial parts and the root of the wild edible plant Scorzonera papposa DC. Starting with the determination the percentage of moisture and total ash, followed by the determination of fifty elements” Au, Pd, Pt, Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn and Zr” using ICP-AES and ICP-MS instruments, and then using the Micro-Kjeldahl method, total nitrogen and crude protein were determined. Finally, total soluble carbohydrates were estimated using the Anthrone colorimetric technique. The plant has a high ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and essential elements, which makes it a good alternative for the human diet. Aerial parts show a higher percentage of nitrogen (4.23 %) and protein (26.48 %), while the root shows a higher ratio of soluble carbohydrates (110.2 mg/kg) and elemental contents.