Characterisation of two South American food and medicinal plants by chemometric methods based on their multielemental composition.

Introduction: The chemometric characterisation of two plants frequently used as food and medicinal species, Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline venosa (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), was carried out based on their mineral composition. Both species, known by the common name of 'marcelas', are very similar in their morphological features but they have different medicinal and food properties.

Objective: To develop multivariate models for the classification of A.