Nutritional Revalorization of Camellia japonica: Implications for Mineral Deficiency and Dietary Supplementation

Camellia japonica, which is traditionally valued as an ornamental plant, has recently attracted attention for its nutritional potential due to its rich mineral profile. This study aimed to evaluate the macromineral composition of C. japonica leaves to assess their potential for food and nutraceutical applications.

Dried leaf samples were subjected to acid digestion, and the concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and sodium (Na) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Analyses were conducted in triplicate, and the results were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (mg/kg dry weight).

Compared to well-known leafy vegetables such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea) on a dry weight basis [1], C. japonica leaves exhibit lower mineral concentrations overall. Nevertheless, the results revealed that C. japonica is particularly rich in Ca (8301.26 ± 78.42), K (3096.23 ± 12.55), and Mg (1415.25 ± 24.34), with moderate levels of P (437.44 ± 6.92) and Na (126.99 ± 4.38). These findings highlight its potential as a sustainable and underutilized botanical source for the development of functional foods and dietary supplements.

(1) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. (2024). FoodData Central: Spinach, raw (FDC ID: 168462). Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168462/nutrients