Assessment of the mineral composition of Monsonia burkeana plant from four South African locations

African cultures have been utilizing medicinal plants as important sources of nutrients and therapeutic agents, integrating them into daily practices for health and well-being. Among these plants is Monsonia burkeana (special tea), which is widely consumed in some parts of South Africa and valued for its medicinal properties and nutritional benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition of Monsonia burkeana harvested from Sekhukhune, Rietondale, Brits, and Lanseria in South Africa, and to quantify the plant’s mineral and vitamin contents. Nutrient composition was assessed for 24 elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), while six vitamins were quantified in shade-dried samples from Lanseria using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The study detected 19 elements across the sample set, though concentrations of thallium (Tl), selenium (Se), bismuth (Bi), and cobalt (Co) were below quantification limits in some location-drying method combinations. Notably, in the Sekhukhune samples, Al was the predominant element, recording 93.94 ppb in freeze-dried material and 75.29 ppb in shade-dried material. Conversely, Ca was the most abundant element in samples from Brits, Lanseria, and Rietondale, with values of 85.93 and 46.09, 54.19 and 52.55, and 35.87 and 30.67 ppb under freeze and shade drying, respectively. Overall, freeze-dried samples consistently showed higher nutrient concentrations than those dried in the shade. Six vitamins were also identified M. burkeana , with Vitamin B3 (29.51 mg/g) and Vitamin B1 (12.97 mg/g) occurring at higher concentrations than the other vitamins, and Vitamin B6 presenting at <0.05 mg/g. Nutritional composition showed distinct geographic patterns, with elemental profiles varying by location. However, the presence of key nutrients across all sites indicates that special tea is a reliable source of essential minerals and can be cultivated successfully in these regions. Moreover, the presence of key vitamins further suggests its potential contribution to human health and nutritional well-being.