Dynamic accumulation of flavonoids and β-carotene in leaves of Perilla frutescens at different stages of development

In order to investigate the accumulation of flavonoids and β-carotene in leaves of Perilla frutescens,the contents of flavonoids and β-carotene in four kinds of perilla leaves at different stages of development,namely vegetation,blossom,and defoliation phases,were determined by UV spectrophotometry and HPLC,respectively. Results showed that β-carotene in perilla leaf were greatly accumulated at blossom phase and the highest content of β-carotene was in the leaf of Baoding-cultivar P11-3 with 4.32mg/g and flavonoids contents reached the maximum at blossom or defoliation phases with the highest content of total flavonoids being in leaf of Yingshan-wild-specie P11-7 with 83.9mg/g. Consequently,the best harvest period of perilla leaf for the development and utilization of flavonoids and β-carotene in Yingshan-wild-specie P11-7 was blossom phase,which provided theoretical basis for the reasonable harvest and utilization of perilla resources in Dabie Mountains.