Nutritional Characteristics of Calystegia japonica

In the present study, the proximate composition, sugar, minerals, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and amino acids in Calystegia japonica (C. japonica) were measured to determine if it can be used as a nutritional and functional material for the development of valuable foods. The mean crude protein, fat, and ash contents of the leaves were 5.75, 2.46, and 7.77%, respectively. The soluble-protein contents of the leaves and roots were 146.78 and 33.67 mg%, respectively. The reducing-sugar and free-sugar contents of the leaves were 682.70 and 166.00 mg%, respectively, and those of the roots were 2,934.89 and 37.70 mg%. The mineral content of the leaves was 3,122.13 mg%, and that of the roots was 1,540.85 mg%. The three elements Ca, K, and Mg were very rich in all their parts, with minerals accounting for 96-99% of their total mineral contents. The total phenolic compound of the leaves was 3,028.89 mg%, and the total flavonoid compound was 382.67 mg%. The phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the leaves were more than 7.6 times those in the roots. The free-amino acid levels in the leaves and roots were 2,467.15 and 1,334.81 mg%, respectively. The results of the comparison of the leaves and roots of C. japonica showed that the leaves had a rich proximate composition consisting of minerals, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and amino acid. This suggests that C. japonica leaves are potentially useful sources of functional and favorite foods and nutraceuticals.