Nutritional Evaluation and Antioxidant Activity Analysis in Vitro of Eucommia Ulmoides Leaves

In this paper,the nutritional components and main functional components of dried Eucommia ulmoides leaves were systematically analyzed by conventional physical and chemical methods,and the nutritional value and antioxidant capacity were evaluated by means of nutritional evaluation and antioxidant tests in vitro. The results showed that Eucommia ulmoides leaves had considerable protein(11.50 g/100 g)and large amount of dietary fiber(38.40 g/100 g),and contained abundant α-linolenic acid(55.5% in fat),potassium(1.38×10⁴ mg/kg),calcium(1.21×10⁴ mg/kg),magnesium(2.02×10³ mg/kg),iron(164 mg/kg)and many microelements. Eucommia ulmoides leaves also contained a full range of amino acids,and met the high-quality standard of protein. The concentration of crude polysaccharide,total polyphenol and total flavonoids in Eucommia ulmoides leaves were 0.989,8.360 and 1.590 g/100 g,respectively,and that of aucubin,geniposidic acid,chlorogenic acid,pinoresinol diglucoside,geniposide and rutin were 0.765,3.020,2.670,0.013,0.024 and 0.067 g/100 g,respectively. The result of antioxidant tests in vitro showed that Eucommia ulmoides leaves had good antioxidant activity,and its scavenging ability for DPPH·,ABTS⁺· and ·OH was concentration dependent within a certain concentration range,while the inhibitory concentration 50%(IC₅₀)values were 32.89,28.09,and 235.3 mg/L,respectively. Eucommia ulmoides leaves have a variety of nutrients and its extract has good antioxidant activity,which has broad application prospects in food development as a new food resource.