Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge

SUMAC: Phytochemical Analysis

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A disappointing analysis. Not shown here: the fruit/seed of

smooth sumac (and other varieties) is extremely high in vitamin C -- ascorbic acid --

which is carried in tiny, prickly hairs that give the fruit head , very high in vitamin C,

by beating the berry heads in water and straining. This is still done by some tribes

in Eastern Canada. A more modern technique is to use old wringer washers to

thrash the berry-heads, and catch the pink sumac-ade that's pumped out.

Chemical PartAmount (ppm)Low (ppm)High (ppm)

ALUMINUM Stem 2 1,005

ASH Stem 21,000 67,000

BARIUM Stem 1 335

BORON Stem 2 34

CADMIUM Stem 0 4

CALCIUM Stem 2,520 24,790

CALCIUM-MALATE Fruit

CHROMIUM Stem 0 10.05

COBALT Stem 0 0.47

COPPER Stem 0.6 20

DIHYDROFISETIN Leaf

FAT Seed 87,000 120,000

FISETIN Leaf

FLUORINE Stem 0 0.134

GALLIC-ACID-METHYLESTERPlant

IODINE Stem 3 6

LEAD Stem 0.4 20

MAGNESIUM Stem 147 4,690

MANGANESE Stem 3 134

MOLYBDENUM Stem 0 4.69

NICKEL Stem 0 6.7

PHOSPHORUS Stem 126 2,412

Rhus Glabra (smooth sumac) Phytochemicals

http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/rhustab.html (1 of 2) [5/17/2004 11:52:56 AM]