Detection of Chemical Characteristics in Hamcho (Salicornia herbacea L.) according to Harvest Periods

함초의 생리활성 물질을 활용하여 기능성 식품을 개발하기 위한 기초 자료로 이용하기 위하여 함초의 채취 시기별 함초의 수용성 추출물의 폴리페놀 화합물 함량은 건물 중량 100 g당 6월 0.682%, 8월 1.005% 및 10월 0.754%였으며, 에탄올 추출물에서는 6월 1.015%, 8월 1.158% 및 10월에 0.953%로 8월 에탄올 추출물에서 가장 높았다. 함초 수용성 추출물의 betaine 성분을 HPLC를 이용하여 측정한 결과 6월, 8월, 10월에서 각각 0.248%, 0.269% 및 0.204%로 나타났다. 함초 성숙 단계별로 채취한 시료의 주요 구성 아미노산 함량(mg%)이 6월, 8월, 10월에서 각각 glutamic acid (582: 519: 664), proline (552: 471: 322), phenylalanine (480: 431: 424), aspartic acid (322: 297: 330), 및 arginine (282: 321: 483)이었으며, 주요 유리 아미노산 함량 (mg%)은 6월과 8월에 각각 proline (9.7: 3.4), asparagine (6.7: 1.4), hydroxyproline (6.4: 2.8), valine (3.9: 2.5) 및 arginine (1.7: 3.0) 이었다. 그러나 10월에 채취된 함초의 유리 아미노산은 유일하게 amonium chloride 0.27 mg%와 1-methyl-L-histidine 0.18 mg%만 함유되어 있었다. 채취 시기별 함초의 미네랄 성분 함량 (mg%)은 전체적으로 Na이 가장 많았고 그 다음으로 K, Mg, Ca, P 순이었다. 채취 시기별로 미네랄 함량이 각각 Na (5695: 7536: 5529), K (1640: 963: 931), Mg (359: 428: 348), Ca (221: 234: 251) 및 P (207: 189: 259) 순으로 함유되어 있었고, 6월에 K, 8월에 Na와 Mg, 10월에 Ca과 P가 각각 높게 함유되어 있었다. 전자공여능(EDA) 측정에서는 0.05% BHT> 8월> 6월> 10월 순으로 항산화 활성을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로 함초의 이화학적 성분은 채취 시기별로 다르게 나타났으며, 폴리페놀 화합물 및 베타인의 생리활성 성분은 8월에 채취한 함초에서 가장 높았다. The chemical compositions of amino acids, minerals, betaine, and polyphenolic compounds from Salicornia herbacea (Hamcho) according to harvest periods were analyzed. Changes of chemical characteristics in water and ethanol extracts from Hamcho were evaluated for titratable acidity, pH, soluble solid, and Hunter's color values. The antioxidative activity of water extract from Hamcho was also determined by DPPH (α,α'-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging radical activity. Total polyphenolic compounds of Hamcho were shown the highest in August harvested by 201.6 ppm. The betaine of Hamcho water-extract was identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which content was 0.248%, 0.269% and 0.204% in June, August, and October, respectively. Major compositional amino acids (mg%) were glutamic acid (582: 519: 664), proline (552: 471: 322), phenylalanine (480: 431: 424), aspartic acid (322: 297: 330), and arginine (282: 321: 483) in June, August, and October, respectively, and major free amino acids (mg%) were proline (9.7: 3.4), asparagine (6.7: 1.4), hydroxyproline (6.4: 2.8), valine (3.9: 2.5), arginine (1.7: 3.0) in June and August, respectively. Mineral contents (mg%) were Na (5,695: 7,536: 5,529), K (1,640: 963: 931), Mg (359: 428: 348), Ca (221: 234: 251), and P (207: 189: 259) in June, August, and October, respectively. Especially, K was high in June, Na and Mg were high in August, and Ca and P were high in October, respectively. DPPH scavenging radical activity was shown in the following order; 0.05% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)> August> June> October harvested Hamcho. The chemical components of polyphenolic compounds, betaine, amino acids and minerals were changed by harvest periods according to the growing season, and the highest concentrations of polyphenolic compounds and betaine of Hamcho were shown in August harvested.