Antioxidative Activity of the Korean Wild Leafy Vegetables: Aster scarer mild Ligularia fischeri

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative potential of Korean wild leafy vegetables in vivo as well as in vitro. Antioxidative activities of Aster scaber and Ligularia fischeri were evaluated against a reference of Spinacia oleracea. Forty rats were fed either control diet or respective vegetable diets for four weeks. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver were compared. The plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high - density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL - C) and triglyceride (TG) were also compared. Korean wild leafy vegetables were assayed for β - carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E and total phenolic compound including flavonoid and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value using the linoleic acid model system. SOD activity in rats fed Aster scaber was significantly higher(as much as 289%) than those fed Spinacia oleracea. Compared to control animals, the Aster scaber fed animals had significantly lower TC and lower atherogenic index. Compared to Spinacia oleracea, Aster scaber and Ligularia fischeri had vitamin C concentration of 150% and 400%, flavonoid concentrations of 470% and 310%, and phenolic compound concentrations of 326% and 203%, respectively, but tended to have lower β - carotene and significantly lower vitamin E concentrations. TBA values were only 18% of the control value in Aster scaber and Ligularia fischeri and 41% of the control value in Spinacia oleracea. These results suggest that Aster scaber could have potent antioxidative activity in vivo as well as in vitro and potential value as a functional food to improve the plasma lipid profiles. Furthermore, phenolic and flavonoid compounds may be a major contributing factor to the antioxidative potential of Korean wild leafy vegetables.