Overview
This study characterizes freeze-dried Wolffia globosa powder from a single Thai production batch as a food ingredient, reporting proximate composition, physicochemical properties, selected element concentrations, and preliminary cytotoxicity data. Heavy metal concentrations (arsenic, cadmium, lead) were measured by ICP-MS. All three elements were below their respective method detection limits, confirming low contamination under the controlled Thai cultivation conditions studied.
Key numbers
Selected element concentrations in freeze-dried W. globosa powder (dry weight basis, ICP-MS, single batch, n = 3 technical replicates):
- Arsenic: <0.050 mg/kg DW (below MDL; total arsenic, unspeciated)
- Cadmium: <0.010 mg/kg DW (below MDL)
- Lead: <0.040 mg/kg DW (below MDL)
- Copper: <0.100 mg/kg DW (below MDL)
- Zinc: <0.500 mg/kg DW (detected, below LOQ)
Proximate composition (dry weight basis, Table 1):
- Protein: 25.83% DW
- Fat: 4.56% DW
- Ash: 16.58% DW
- Crude fiber: 8.80% DW
- Carbohydrate: 44.22% DW
Moisture (Table 2): 96.78% FW (3.22% dry matter)
Methods (brief)
Freeze-dried W. globosa powder from a single Thai production batch. Element analysis by ICP-MS following microwave acid digestion. Recoveries 76-109% across metals. MDL and LOQ reported. Triplicate technical replicates.
Implications
This is the primary controlled food-grade heavy metal dataset for W. globosa in this evidence unit. All three measured metals were below MDL under Thai controlled cultivation conditions. The 3.22% dry matter value (96.78% moisture FW) is the DW-to-FW conversion basis used in this unit. Single batch and single origin (Thailand); extrapolation to other cultivation conditions or regions requires additional data.
Related evidence
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