This study analyzed the chemical characteristics and physiological activity of five kinds of fresh vegetables produced in trees in early spring and tried to use them as basic data for wild vegetable producers and processed food manufacturers using wild vegetables. The crude protein, minerals, ascorbic acid, folate, total phenol, total flavonoid, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitory activity were determined. Five spring wild vegetables contain high protein and phosphorus, indicating that they are useful food ingredients as sources of protein and phosphorus. Vitamin C content was high in R. venicifera and C. sinensis shoots, and in particular, R. venicifera and A. cortex shoots have high folic acid (folate) contents of 1,903.91 ug% and 1,525.35 ug%, respectively, which is considered a good food for folic acid intake in spring. The total phenol content was between 0.52% and 1.27%, and it was the highest in C. sinensis of 1.27%, followed by the order of R. venicifera, A.cortex, K.pictus, and A. elata, which tended to be consistent with the total flavonoid content. As for DPPH radical scavenging ability, C. sinensis (55.93%) showed the highest activity, and ACE inhibitory activity showed the highest activity in A. cortex (88.04%).

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea M.) has been used for fiber materials in Korea traditionally, but in recent years, the concern with ramie leaves for the food industry such as tteok (a kind of Korean rice cake) industry has been increasing, so a study for eatable ramie is required for the expansion of ramie consumption. Moreover, the ramie varieties for the food industry are not established, so the natural species are cultivated in general; therefore, it is very important to select the ramie varieties for the food industry such as rice cakes, tea, beverage and so on. This study was undertaken to compare the physiochemical properties among 9 ramie lines selected in the Yeonggwang-gun Agricultural Technology Center to select the eatable ramie varieties for the food industry. The contents of the protein among 9 ramie lines was 6.21~7.56% and had the highest content in the YG55. The folic acid (folate) and vitamin C content had varying differences among the 9 lines; the content of folate showed 771.52~1,978.84 μg%, that of vitamin C showed 149.42~275.34 mg%. The ACE inhibitory activity appeared to be the highest in YG88 (21.5%) among the 9 ramie varieties tested.

This study was performed to determine the optimal time of harvest for ramie leaves with the two varieties (Seocheon Seobang and Seoncheon Baekpi) by comparison of physiological activity and physicochemical characteristics. The crude protein, minerals, ascorbic acid, folate, chlorophyll, ACE inhibitory activity and AChE inhibitory activity were determined. The amount of crude protein in ramie leaf, which was collected in Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, grew up steadily from early May to September. The content of calcium in was higher in Baekpi than in Seobang. Seobang displayed its highest value of 3,569.90 mg% in September, while Baekpi displayed its highest value of 3,163.84 mg% in October. Although, folate and vitamin C contents in the two varieties were slightly different, they were higher as the growth date grew in October. The highest value of chlorophyll content was observed in October, which was later in the vegetative state. ACE inhibitory activity and AChE inhibitory activity appeared to be higher in Baekpi than in Seobang. Between June and August, ACE inhibitory activity was highest in Baekpi variety.

We investigated outer appearance of brown rice(BR) and its anthocyanin content of Josangheugchal a colored rice variety as affected by different transplanting date(from May 15 to June 24, 10 day interval, 5 times). Thickness of BR was mainly 1.6～2.0mm which occupied 96.7% ~ 99.5% under different transplanting date. As transplanting time was late, mode of thickness of BR was clearly decreased : 2.0mm on May 15 and May 25, 1.9mm on June 4 and June 14, and 1.8mm on June 24. There was statistically significant difference in length, width and 1000 grain weight of BR according to both transplanting date and thickness of BR. There was highly significant positive corelation between thickness and length of BR and between thickness and 1000 grain weight of BR. Anthocyanin content linearly increased from 119.7mg/100g on May 15 to 384.4mg/100g on June 24 as transplanting time was late, and was highest in 1.8~1.9mm thickness of BR. Coefficient of variation for anthocyanin content by thickness of BR was lowest on June 24. According to the facts stated above it is recommendable to transplant Josangheugchal in late June to produce highly marketable colored rice.