DONG LIU¹*, WEI TAN²

*Corresponding author

1. Anqing vocational technical college, Tianzhushan Road 99, 246003, Anqing, China 
2. Anhui Institute for Food and Drug Control, Yanan Road 13, 230051, Hefei, China 

Abstract

In the study, nutrients, antioxidant activity and organic phosphorus pesticide residue of Platycodon flowers and leaves were analyzed. The results showed that flowers and leaves of Platycodon grandiflorum not only contained nutrients such as eight kinds of essential amino acids, dietary fiber and minerals, but also contained polyphenols and flavonoids. The polyphenols and flavonoids extraced from Platycodon flower, and leaf had antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activities of the leaf were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those of the flower. Furthmore, organic phosphorus pesticides in flowers and leaves were not detected.

INTRODUCTION

Platycodon grandiflorum, which belongs to Campanulaceae family, is commonly called balloon. And it is a kind of Chinese medicine (1), which contains various bio-active ingredients, such as polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids and phenolic acids, and so on. Platycodon grandiflorum can relieve cough, eliminate phlegm, regulate the blood-sugar level, and resist inflammation (2). Addtion, it also has edible and ornamental value. In northeast China and the Korean Peninsula, it is usually processed into pickle. Platycodon flowers are blue or purple white (3). Its leaves are oval, and the height of the stem is 20 to 120 cm. Therefore, it is usually used in landscape (4). There are a few of studies about Platycodon flower and leaf, such as nutrient element applications and light spectra on growth, leaf morphology, structure, biochemical substance and platycodin content of Platycodon grandiflorum (4, 5). This study analyzed the nutrients and antioxidant activities of Platycodon flowers and leaves, providing the basis for utilization.