Abstract:
The differences in nutritional values and antioxidant capacities of 22 Caryophyllaceae cultivars' flowers were performed in this study. Correlation analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to comprehensively evaluate the quality of these flowers. The results showed that 22 Caryophyllaceae cultivars' flowers had higher nutritional value and antioxidant capacity, and the contents of vitamin C and total flavonoids were significantly positive correlated with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH) free radical scavenging rates. Cluster analysis result showed that the 13 quality indicators measured in the study were classified into three categories. The first category mainly included water and protein contents, and the second category contained the contents of vitamin C, total flavonoids, reducing sugars and ash contents, as well as FRAP and DPPH scavenging rates. The remain indices were categorized into the third category. The comprehensive evaluation model of principal components showed that sample C18 had the best performance. Taken together, Caryophyllaceae cultivars' flowers have certain nutritional value and antioxidant capacity, and are good plant resources for the development of new functional foods and natural antioxidants products.