Study on the Comparison of Antioxidant Capacity and Volatile Substances of Nymphaea hybrid Tea

PurposeIn order to study the differences of antioxidant capacity and the volatile substances in different varilies of Nymphaea hybrid tea to provide the basis for its germplasm resources utilization innovation.

MethodThe contents of total flavonoids and total phenols in N. hybrid tea were defermined, and the antioxidant capacity of N. hybrid tea in vitro were compared by the determination of DPPH·, ABTS⁺· and reducing capacity. Meanwhile, the volatile components of N. hybrid tea were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) technology.

ResultN. hybrid tea was rich in natural antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols. Four varieties of tea had significant antioxidant capacity in vitro. The antioxidant capacity had a very significant positive correlation with the total phenol content (P<0.01), but no significant correlation with the flavonoid content (P>0.05). In purple, pink, yellow and white N. hybrid tea, 52, 54, 70 and 60 volatile substances were detected respectively, with the relative contents accounting for 85.55%, 87.04%, 88.16% and 86.28%, respectively, mainly including substances of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl acetate, β-dihydrovioletone, α-violetone, β-violetone and so on.

ConclusionThe perfume of yellow N. hybrid tea has high content of flavonoids and polyphenols, the most volatile substances and the highest relative content, and all kinds of volatile substances occupy a certain proportion, with strong aroma, which is not only an excellent floral gardening resource, but also suitable for functional tea, with great development potential and wide application prospect.