Total phenolic,flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacities of aqueous extract of 16 common edible flowers

Total phenolic,flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of 16 common edible flowers were evaluated,the correlation between them were analysed. Total phenolic content was measured by Folin- Ciocalteu method,total flavonoid content was measured by Na NO_2- Al Cl_3- Na OH method,antioxidant activity was measured by FRAP,DPPH and ABTS~+·method. The strongest antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of these flowers were Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews,Rosa rugosa Thunb.( purple),Rosa chinensis Jacq.,while the weakest were Gomphrena globosa Linn.,Jasminum sambac( L.) Ait.Correlations between total phenolic content and antioxidative activity of edible flowers was large,while non- correlations between total flavonoid content and antioxidative activity was observed.