• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.171-180
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to determine the possibility of using Flos Sophora japonica as natural health food source. To accomplish this purpose, the contents of general and antioxidative nutrients of Flos Sophora japonica a were measured. The contents of carbohydrate, crude protein, crude lipid and ash are 67.76%, 19.87%, 4.61% and 7.76%. And the calories of Flos Sophora japonica Linne was 318.32 Kcal. Total dietary fiber was 25.35% of total carbohydrates. The percentages of water soluble dietary fiber to insoluble dietary fiber were 1.80 % and 23.56 %, respectively. The protein were contained total 18 different kinds of amino acids. The contents of non-essential and essential amino acids were 4,898.78mg and 5,953.51mg. The K was the largest mineral followed by Ca, P and Mg, which means Flos Sophora japonica Linne is alkali material. The contents of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 29.69%, 34.93% and 35.38%. Therefore, the amount of the total unsaturated fatty acid was higher than that of any other plant. The content of vitamin C in Flos Sophora japonica Linne was higher than that of any other plant, which suggest that it could increase blood elasticity. The content of rutin, which is responsible for capillary vessel permeability, was 22.60%. The contents of water soluble antioxidative materials in 1 mL of water-extracted Flos Sophora japonica Linne were 3.9 ${\mu}$g which is comparable to 1233.0 mmol of vitamin C in antioxidant effect. The general nutrients and other antioxidatant bioactive materials in Flos Sophora japonica Linne were also potential materials for good health food. It is expected that follow up study of Flos Sophora japonica Linne through developing processed food and evaluation of their functional properties would provide useful information as a source of medicinal foods.