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Comparative Assessment of Copper, Iron, and Zinc Contents in Selected Indian (Assam) and South African (Thohoyandou) Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Samples and Their Infusion: A Quest for Health Risks to Consumer

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Abstract

The current study aims to assess the infusion pattern of three important micronutrients namely copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) contents from black tea samples produced in Assam (India) and Thohoyandou (South Africa). Average daily intakes and hazardous quotient were reported for these micronutrients. Total content for Cu, Fe, and Zn varied from 2.25 to 48.82 mg kg−1, 14.75 to 148.18 mg kg−1, and 28.48 to 106.68 mg kg−1, respectively. The average contents of each of the three micronutrients were higher in tea leaves samples collected from South Africa than those from India while the contents in tea infusions in Indian samples were higher than in South African tea samples. Results of this study revealed that the consumption of 600 mL tea infusion produced from 24 g of made tea per day may be beneficial to human in terms of these micronutrients content. Application of nonparametric tests revealed that most of the data sets do not satisfy the normality assumptions. Hence, the use of both parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis that subsequently revealed significant differences in elemental contents among Indian and South African tea.

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Acknowledgment

Authors acknowledge the joint financial support for this research provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (DST/INT/South Africa/P-11/2014) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), Republic of South Africa (Grant UID: 90762). Fund received for procurement of AAS by National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF), Tea Board and the Government of India (Project Code No. 151/2011) is herein duly acknowledged. Finally, our sincere thank is extended to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable and constructive comments on this manuscript that have helped us to greatly improve its quality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Upper Assam Advisory Centre, Tea Research Association, Dikom, Dibrugarh, Assam, 786101, India

    Tanmoy Karak, Amrit Kumar Dutta, Krishnamoni Bora & Romesh Kumar Boruah

  2. Division of Statistical Genetics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Ranjit Kumar Paul

  3. Department of Crop Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa

    Funso Raphael Kutu

  4. Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, DE221GB, Derby, UK

    Aradhana Mehra

  5. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, 226015, India

    Puja Khare

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  1. Tanmoy Karak
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Correspondence to Tanmoy Karak.

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We firmly believe that the present work has not been influenced by any of the financial and personal relationships with anyone or with industries. We declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Karak, T., Paul, R.K., Kutu, F.R. et al. Comparative Assessment of Copper, Iron, and Zinc Contents in Selected Indian (Assam) and South African (Thohoyandou) Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Samples and Their Infusion: A Quest for Health Risks to Consumer. Biol Trace Elem Res 175, 475–487 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0783-3

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