Abstract
Eight minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn) were determined in Schizandra chinensis fruits and their infusions in Seoul. The average mineral contents per Schizandra chinensis fruits (100 g) were K (966.08 mg), Mg (87.20 mg), Ca (15.19 mg), Mn (6.19 mg), Fe (3.99 mg), Zn (2.78 mg), Na (2.15 mg) and Cu (0.31 mg) respectively by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer. The quantity of K and Zn were found significantly higher in Korean fruits than the Chinese fruits (p < 0.05). The other 6 minerals did not reveal remarkable difference. In the case of processed Schizandra chinensis tea, it had K (217 mg), Mg (20.40 mg), Ca (7.16 mg), Na (2.95 mg), Mn (1.34 mg), Fe (0.95 mg), Zn (0.25 mg) and Cu (0.09 mg) per 100 g respectively. In extraction of Schizandra chinensis fruits, as it took a longer extraction time, and in a powder form rather than a raw form, it had a higher contents of minerals. When a powder type of Schizandra chinensis fruits was extracted for 24 hours at $25^{\circ}C$, the transfer rate appeared with Ca (36.27%), Mn (25.44%), K (22.43%), Zn (21.00%), Na (19.91%), Mg (19.55%) Cu (13.78%) and Fe (6.45%) respectively.