Evaluation of essential elements and heavy metals in dried seedless barberry fruits from the main production regions of South Khorasan, Iran.

Four major regions (Birjand, Zirkoh, Darmian, and Qaen) of barberry cultivation in South Khorasan, Iran, were selected and investigated. According to the findings, the most abundant mineral elements in the barberry fruits were on average in the order of potassium > phosphorus > calcium > iron > magnesium. The greatest amounts of potassium and calcium were detected in the samples from the Zirkoh region, and the greatest amounts of phosphorus and iron were detected in the samples from the Qaen region.