A Study on the Biological Activity of Commonly Consumed Spring Herbs in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to study the superiority of Korean spring herbs by selecting eight spring herbs that are commonly consumed in Korea and evaluating their biological activity.Methods: Antioxidant (total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline–6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity) and enzyme activities (α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity) were measured using the hot-water extract of the selected spring herbs.Results: In case of total polyphenol content, the shepherd’s purse, daylily, and gomchwi took first, second, and third place. In case of total flavonoid content, rape, shepherd’s purse and mugwort took first, second, and third place, and in case of DPPH radical scavenging activity, shepherd’s purse, daylily, and rape took first, second, and third place. In case of ABTS radical scavenging activity, the shepherd’s purse, mugwort and rape took first, second, and third place. In case of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, mugwort, gomchwi, and wild garlic were classified in the first, second, and third place. Lastly, Korean angelica tree, rape, and wild garlic were classified in the first, second, and third, in case of ACE inhibitory activity.Conclusion: From these results, among the selected spring herbs, the shepherd’s purse and rape showed exceptional effects in antioxidant activity, mugwort in antidiabetic activity, and Korean angelica tree sprout in antihypertensive activity, respectively. Therefore, the present study is expected to provide basic data for future development of foods using spring herbs to remedy lifestyle-related diseases.