Nutrients and Antioxidative Activities of Metasequoia glyptostroboides

The nutrients and antioxidative activities of fruits and leaves from Metasequoia glyptostroboides were investigated to provide basic data for the future development of functional foods. The nitrogen-free extract contents of fruit and leaves were 69.04% and 50.47%, respectively. Total phenolic content was higher in leaves (21.75 mg/GAE g) compared to the fruit (19.95 mg/GAE g). The mineral components of fruit and leaves mainly consisted of calcium (2,136.08 and 304.85 mg/100 g, respectively), potassium (1,355.53 and 1,144.04 mg/100 g, respectively), and phosphorous (426.30 and 350.50 mg/100 g, respectively). In terms of amino acid composition, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, and leucine were relatively high, but methionine and cystine were low. The hot water extract from leaves was a more potent free radical-scavenger and had higher reducing activities than extracts from fruit. Thus, phenolics of M. glyptostroboides leaves can be utilized as an effective functional food substance for its natural antioxidant properties.