METHOD FOR INCREASING ANTIOXIDANT CONTENT IN PLANTS

Abstract

A method for increasing antioxidant content in plants, which includes: (a) placing at least one light transmissive material for adjusting or retaining light transmittance at certain wavelengths between a light source and photosynthesis receptors of the plants; and (b) passing a light emitted from the light source through the light transmissive material, wherein the light transmissive material adjusts or retains at least two of the following wavelength sections: the light transmittance at a section from 340 nm to 500 nm is 65% or less; the light transmittance at a section from 500 nm to 600 nm is 60% or less; and the light transmittance at a section from 600 nm to 850 nm is 83% or less.

Claims

1. A method for increasing antioxidant content in plants, which comprises: (a) placing at least one light transmissive material for adjusting or retaining light transmittance at certain wavelengths between a light source and photosynthesis receptors of the plants; and (b) passing a light emitted from the light source through the light transmissive material, wherein the light transmissive material adjusts or retains at least two of the following wavelength sections: the light transmittance at the section from 340 nm to 500 nm is 65% or less; the light transmittance at the section from 500 nm to 600 nm is 60% or less; and the light transmittance at the section from 600 nm to 850 nm is 83% or less.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antioxidant is ascorbic acid, various vitamins, anthocyanin, ellagic acid, or polyphenol compounds.

3. The method of claim 1, which adjusts at least two of the following wavelength sections by using a combination of single layer or multiple layers of light transmissive material to shield the plants: the light transmittance at the section from 340 nm to 500 nm is 65% or less; the light transmittance at the section from 500 nm to 600 nm is 60% or less; and the light transmittance at the section from 600 nm to 850 nm is 83% or less.

4. The method of claim 1, which adjusts at least two of the following wavelength sections by controlling the color of the light transmissive material to shield the plants: the light transmittance at the section from 340 nm to 500 nm is 65% or less; the light transmittance at the section from 500 nm to 600 nm is 60% or less; and the light transmittance at the section from 600 nm to 850 nm is 83% or less.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material is a fabric, a weaving net, a gauze, a woven fabric, a plastic fabric, a plastic film, a plastic paper, a plastic board, a thermal insulation paper, glass, a sunscreen paint or a non-woven fabric.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the light transmissive material is a magenta, royal blue, blue, red purple, or dark purple plastic film or weaving net.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material is of magenta color, the stitch density thereof is 45% or more.

8. The method of claim 1, which is used in natural environment or greenhouses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a relational graph of a magenta net having a stitch density of 50% between the photon flux density and different wavelengths, wherein 1 represents the first test (sunlight), and 2 represents the second test (passing through the magenta net having a stitch density of 50%).

[0037] FIG. 3 is the light transmittance of a light at each section of wavelengths when the light passes through a white net having a stitch density of 50%, a magenta net having a stitch density of 55%, and a magenta net having a stitch density more than 55%.

EXAMPLES

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, light source 10 was placed in front of the leaves of a plant or other photosynthesis receptors and illuminated the plant. The wavelength of a light 20 that had not yet passed through a light transmissive material was filtered by a magenta, royal blue, blue or dark blue plastic film or weaving net used as the light transmissive material 30. The light 40 that had passed through the light transmissive material and illuminated the plant 50 was adjusted or retained for a proper spectrum range in order to promote antioxidant content in the plant.

[0039] FIG. 2 was a relational graph of a magenta net having a stitch density of 50% between the photon flux density and different wavelengths, wherein 1 represented the first test (sunlight), and 2 represented the second test (passing through the magenta net having a stitch density of 50%).

[0040] Analysis of antioxidant capacity and active ingredients

[0041] Under light irradiation, papaya plants were placed under a white transparent net having a stitch density of 50%, a magenta net having a stitch density of 55%, and a magenta net having a stitch density of more than 55%. After the light passed through those three weaving nets, the light transmittance of each section of wavelengths was shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] In addition, the present invention further placed papaya plants under a white transparent net having a stitch density of 50% and a magenta net having a stitch density of 45%. After the light passed through these nets, the light transmittance of each section of wavelengths was shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Light transmittance of each section of wavelengths after the light passed through a white net having a stitch density of 50% and a magenta net having a stitch density of 45% White net magenta net Sunlight (Stitch density 50%) (Stitch density 45%) Below 400 nm 100 76 62 400 nm to 500 nm 100 78 65 500 nm to 600 nm 100 80 55 600 nm to 700 nm 100 81 80 700 nm to 800 nm 100 82 83 Above 800 nm 100 83 83 340 nm to 850 nm 100 80 75 400 nm to 700 nm 100 80 68

[0043] The present invention further analyzed the effects of different light transmissive materials on antioxidant capacity and antioxidant production:

[0044] (1) Analysis Experiment of Strawberry Fruit

[0045] Under light irradiation, strawberry plants were placed under the control group (a white transparent net having a stitch density of 50%), treatment 1 (a magenta net having a stitch density of more than 55%), and treatment 2 (a magenta net having a stitch density of 55%). After the light passed through those three weaving nets, the antioxidant capacity and the antioxidant content of the strawberry fruit were analyzed, the results are shown in FIG. 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Impacts of different light transmissive materials on antioxidant capacity and antioxidant content of strawberry fruit ABTS + Polyphenol Ascorbic Ellagic Sample Sample Clearance rate compounds acid acid Anthocyanin No. Groups (%) (mg of GAE/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) 1 Control 20.30 1.96 1.85 0.04 0.40 0.0031 <0.00625 0.97 0.0014 2 Treatment 1 62.68 4.57 5.28 0.04 0.58 0.0016 <0.00625 1.61 0.0054 3 Treatment 2 27.60 2.87 2.17 0.04 0.56 0.0005 <0.00625 0.99 0.0027

[0046] Therefore, as for the antioxidant index of strawberry fruit ABTS+clearance rate, the clearance rate of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, up to 62.684.57%. As for the results of the polyphenol compounds, the content of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 5.280.04 mg of GAE/g, while the concentration of ellagic acid was <0.00625 mg/g. The ascorbic acid content fell between 0.40 mg/g and 0.58 mg/g, among them the control group was the lowest, the concentration was 0.400.0031 mg/g. The anthocyanin content in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 1.610.0054 mg/g. The results showed that the weaving nets of treatment 1 and treatment 2 were able to improve the antioxidant capacity and increase the antioxidant content of strawberry fruit.

[0047] (2) Analysis Experiment of Papaya Fruit-Variety A

[0048] Under light irradiation, papaya plants-variety A were placed under the control group (a white, transparent net having a stitch density of 50%), treatment 1 (a magenta net having a stitch density of more than 50%), and treatment 2 (a magenta net having a stitch density of 50%). After the light passed through these three weaving nets, the antioxidant capacity and the content of antioxidant of the papaya fruit-variety A were analyzed, the results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Impacts of different light transmissive materials on antioxidant capacity and antioxidant content of papaya fruit-variety A ABTS + Polyphenol Ascorbic Ellagic Sample Sample Clearance rate compound acid acid Anthocyanin No. Groups (%) (mg of GAE/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) 1 Control 18.30 1.96 1.45 0.04 0.30 0.0031 <0.00625 0.921 0.0014 2 Treatment 1 45.20 3.52 3.19 0.04 0.43 0.0014 <0.00625 1.501 0.0042 3 Treatment 2 20.60 2.66 1.68 0.04 0.35 0.0005 <0.00625 0.934 0.0022

[0049] Therefore, as for the antioxidant index of papaya fruit-variety A ABTS+clearance rate, the clearance rate of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, up to 45.203.52%. As for the results of the polyphenol compounds, the content of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 3.190.04 mg of GAE/g, while the concentration of ellagic acid in every group were <0.00625 mg/g. The ascorbic acid content fell between 0.30 mg/g and 0.43 mg/g, among them the control group was the lowest, the concentration was 0.300.0031 mg/g. The anthocyanin content in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 1.5010.0042 mg/g. The results showed that the weaving nets of both treatment 1 and treatment 2 were able to improve the antioxidant capacity and increase the antioxidant content of papaya fruit-variety A.

[0050] (3) Analysis Experiment of Papaya Fruit-Variety B

[0051] Under light irradiation, papaya plants-variety B were placed under the control group (a white transparent net having a stitch density of 50%), treatment 1 (a magenta net having a stitch density of more than 50%), and treatment 2 (a magenta net having a stitch density of 50%). After the light passed through these three weaving nets, the antioxidant capacity and the content of antioxidant of the papaya fruit-variety B were analyzed, the results are shown in Table 5.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Impacts of different light transmissive materials on antioxidant capacity and antioxidant content of papaya fruit-variety B ABTS + Polyphenol Ascorbic Ellagic Sample Sample Clearance rate compound acid acid Anthocyanin No. Groups (%) (mg of GAE/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) 1 Control 16.10 1.84 1.33 0.04 0.31 0.0033 <0.00625 0.910 0.0016 2 Treatment 1 37.70 3.25 3.19 0.04 0.45 0.0016 <0.00625 1.500 0.0042 3 Treatment 2 18.10 1.96 1.45 0.04 0.33 0.0006 <0.00625 0.923 0.0025

[0052] Therefore, as for the antioxidant index of papaya fruit-variety B ABTS+clearance rate, the clearance rate of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, the clearance rate was up to 37.703.25%. As for the results of the polyphenol compounds, the content of the samples in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 3.190.04 mg of GAE/g, while the concentration of ellagic acid in every groups were <0.00625 mg/g. The ascorbic acid content fell between 0.31 mg/g and 0.45 mg/g, among them the control group was the lowest, the concentration was 0.310.0033 mg/g. The anthocyanin content in treatment 1 was the highest, the concentration was 1.5000.0042 mg/g. The results showed that the weaving nets of both treatment 1 and treatment 2 were able to improve the antioxidant capacity and increase the antioxidant content of papaya fruit-variety B.

[0053] Therefore, when the light transmissive material of the present invention was used in strawberry and papaya, the effects of improving the antioxidant capacity and increasing the production of antioxidants could be achieved.

[0054] The above description is representative of preferred embodiments, exemplary, and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.