Copper microelement

The essential microelements are only required in trace amounts (see also p.2). This group includes iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), and molybdenum (Mo). Fluorine (F) is not essential for life, but does promote healthy bones and teeth. It is still a matter of controversy whether vanadium, nickel, tin, boron, and silicon also belong to the essential trace elements. 

Undemutrition during fetal and early life impacts upon the development of the immune organs and appears to diminish cellular immunity and increase the risk of atopic disorders during childhood (Langley-Evans and Carrington 2006). The references confirm that many food components have a beneficial impact on various elements of the immune system. Proteins, some fats, vitamins (A, B6, E, and folic acid), macro- and microelements (zinc, iron, selenium, and copper), and certain bacteria (probiotic bacteria), for example, have a considerable effect on the immune system. 

Hungarian studies have shown that the pericarp has 16-17% protein and the seeds contain 18% protein. When the microelements were investigated it was found that iron was present in the largest concentration, followed by bromide and manganese. Other microelements found were cadmium, calcium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Fruits of the Capsicum species have a relatively low volatile oil ranging from about 0.1 to 2.6% in paprika. The characteristic aroma and flavour of fresh fruit is imparted by the volatile oil (Pruthi, 2003). The comparative chemical composition of chilli and paprika is given in Table 14.2. 

Copper is an essential element for plant growth and important in various biochemical process, but toxic in higher concentrations, when it interferes with numerous physiological processes. While manganese, iron and zinc are essential microelements that are indispensable for normal plant growth... 

Copper (Cu) is an essential microelement of h et plants and algae and has a direct impact on photosynthesis. The Cu-containing protein plastocyanin is a constiment of the primary electron donor of photosystem I. However, high copper concentration inhibits the photosynthetic electron transport, especially at the level of PSII. Since copper has become a widespread pollutant due to its use as algaecide and fin cide in agriculture, the sensitivity of PSII to this metal could be exploited for the development of sensors and assays. 

Humus by means of exchange reactions and chelation mechanisms is able to hold most of them except copper in an available form as they are either released from soil minerals or are added to the soil in plant and animal residues and in fertilizers. The ability of soil humus to hold microelements for a considerable time and release them as iweded to crops is undoubtedly one of the most important benefits derived from its presence in soils. 

One of the important benefits of chelates, other than supplying metals, is realized as a result of their improvement of the micronutrient balance of plants. For example. Holmes and Brown (1955), in studies with calcareous soils, observed that certain effective chelates increased the concentration of iron in soybeans, and at the same time decreased the concentration of manganese and copper. This suggests that the cause of iron-deficiency chlorosis in this case may have been improper microelement balance in these calcareous soils. These workers also observed that when chelate was applied to several soils, it alleviated iron chlorosis completely in some soils, partly in others, and caused toxicity in yet others. From the work of others we know that under other conditions chelates may also eliminate or greatly decrease toxic effects where heavy metals are present in excessive amounts. Numerous soil factors influence these varying responses. 

Phytochemistry Needles and young branches contain vitamin C, essential oil (with up to 40 components such as camphene, myrcene, bomyl acetate, and others), flavonoids, and microelements (iron, manganese, chromium, aluminium and copper Bykov 1950). Thirty-eight diterpenoids have been identified in the oleoresin (Raldugin et al. 1991). Sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and tocopherol were isolated from needles and twigs. Dehydroabietol, patchouli alcohol, guaiol, P-sitosterol, and campesterol were the main components of the unsaponifiable matter (Zhou 2001). 

Literature data report that Cornelian cherry juice is remarkable rich in various essential microelements. Copper, iron, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium are the main microelements identified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) in the ash of Cornus mas fruits mesocarp [Bijelic et al., 2011 Cindric et al., 2012 Deng et al., 2013]. The calcium level of the juice obtained from these fruits is 10 fold higher compared to other juices, e.g. apple and pear, reaching a value of 323 mg/L. The potassium concentration was also high (1639 mg/L) [Krosniak et al., 2010]. 

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