The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activities (FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH), and antibacterial properties of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) extracts. Lotus leaves, stems, and seed pods were extracted with deionized water at 95℃, and with 70.5% ethanol at 85℃. The TPC ranged from 8.12 to 215.12 GAE mg/g. The ethanol extract of the seed pod had the highest TPC, and the TPC of the corresponding deionized water extract was 161.45 mg/g. FRAP values ranged from 104.03 to 3,546.39 TEAC μmol/g, ABTS radical cation scavenging activities ranged from 105.11 to 3,956.94 TEAC μmol/g, and DPPH radical scavenging activities ranged from 37.29 to 2,549.46 TEAC μmol/g. EC50 values ranged from 0.26 to 9.63 mg/mL, and 0.31 to 21.21 mg/mL for ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The ethanol and deionized water extracts of the seed pod showed higher TPC and stronger antioxidant properties (FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH) than those of characteristic of the leaf extracts. The ethanol and deionized water extracts of the seed pod showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with inhibition zones of 9.0 to 14.0 mm, and the ethanol extract of the leaf showed antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus with inhibition zones of 9.0 and 10.0 mm, respectively. Thus, the lotus seed pod could be used to produce novel teas, and could be a potential source of therapeutic ingredients for food and medicine.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activity of Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder. Original Jeolpyeon and Jeolpyeon with BHT (butyl hydroxy toluene) werecompared. Antioxidant activities were measured based ontotal polyphenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH radicalscavenging activity, reducing power, and SOD-like activity. Total polyphenolic and total flavonoid contents of Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder were estimated at 37.81±0.45 mg GAE/g and 26.35±0.13 mg QE/g respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity increased upon addition of lotus seed powder. Further, reducing power was higher in Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder than original Jeolpyeon or Jeolpyeon with BHT. The antioxidative effect of Jeolpyeon significantly increased uponaddition of lotus seed powder.

연 종자의 발아 특성을 구명하기 위해 전남 무안산 백련 종자를 이용해 종피의 파상부위, 발아 온도, 황산용액 처리 농도 및 시간별에 따른 종자 무게 변화와 발아율을 조사하였다. 종자를 파상하지 않고 파종한 것은 15일째가 되어도 전혀 발아가 되지 않았다. 그러나 기부를 파상하여 25℃에서 발아를 시킨 것은 6일 만에 100%가 발아 되어 가장 우수한 결과를 보였다. 종자를 물에 침적시켰을 때 물에 뜬 것(0.90 g)과 가라앉은 것(1.18 g) 모두 발아 되었으나 침적된 종자를 25℃에서 발아 시켰을 때 발아세가 가장 좋았다. 황산처리는 80% 용액에서 40-160분간 침적처리 했을때 6일째에 100%가 발아해 가장 우수한 발아세를 나타내었다. 종자 채취 후 0개월, 12개월 및 24개월 된 것을 파종한 결과 발아세와 발아율에 차이가 없었다. 위와 같은 결과는 연의 종자번식에 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다.