Geographical origin traceability of foxtail millet based on the combination of multi-element and chemical composition analysis

Abstract

The potential approach of classifying foxtail millet according to geographical origin was investigated using mineral element and chemical composition analysis of samples from various provinces in China. Total 16 mineral elements and five chemical compositions of foxtail millets were analyzed. There were significant differences in 12 elements of millets from different regions. Notable differences were also observed for chemical composition, with Hebei samples showing higher protein content, Henan samples showing higher fat and ash contents and Shandong samples showed higher dietary fiber and amylose contents. Based on the combination of both methods, discriminant analysis provided optimal discrimination among the various geographical origins with a 95.2% classification rate. Our study provides an effective tool to trace the foxtail millet geographic origin through a combination of multi-element and chemical composition analysis.