In the present study, we investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and nitrite scavenging ability in leaf and root of Youngia sonchifolia Max. The leaf powder contained 4.3% of water, 53.9% of crude carbohydrate, 21.6% of crude protein, 3.5% of crude fat and 16.7% of crude ash. The root powder contained 4.8% of water, 65.9% of crude carbohydrate, 17.4% of crude protein, 3.2% of crude fat and 8.7% of crude ash. The major mineral elements both in leaf and root powder were potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Contents of unsaturated fatty acids were higher than those of saturated fatty acids both in leaf and root powder. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of methanol extract in leaf were 3,922.4 mg/100 g and 1,903.2 mg/100 g respectively. In comparison,total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of methanol extract in root powder were 1,898.4 mg/100 g and 359.8 mg/100 g. The antioxidative activities of several solvents extract of leaf and root powder were investigated by measuring electron-donating ability using 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Of the each extracts, ethyl acetate extract of leaf and root powder showed relatively higher antioxidant activity; 94.3% in the leaf powder and 92.9% in the root powder. Nitrite scavenging ability was also highest in the ethyl acetate extract of leaf (45.4%) and root powder (28.8%).
These results suggest that ethyl acetate extract of Youngia sonchifolia Max. can be used as a functional materials.