Development and Utilization On a Food-Medicine Plant (Premna microphylla Turcz.).

Development and utilization on a food-medicine plant (Premna microphylla Turcz.) Ming-Sheng Zhang1,2, Yinghua Huang2* 1 School of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, P.R. China 2 USDA-ARS, Plant Science Research Laboratory, Stillwater OK 74075 USA * Corresponding author and offprint requests. E-mail: yinghua.huang@okstate.edu Premna microphylla Turcz., distributed mainly in the southern of China, is a deciduous shrub both food and medicine. The results of chemical composition analysis shown that the leaves of P. microphylla contained rich protein, fat, crude fiber, vitamin, total sugar, mineral element. Crude proteins content were higher than rice, wheat, corn, sorghum and other crops. The content of manganese, iron, zinc and other trace elements were more than ordinary leafy vegetables. The essential amino acids accounted were 32.4% of total amino acids. Pectin content was 30% to 40% in leaf. Therefore, the Cool Tofu made from the leaves of P. microphylla was cherished with its delicious, jade-like color, rich nutrition, and to clear away summer heat. At the same time, the leaves of P. microphylla also accumulated a lot of glucopyranoside, rhamnopyranosyl, glyceroglycolipid, ceramide, triterpene glycoside, galactopyranosyl, hyptatic acid, arjunolic acid, etc. So the leaves were applied to treat skin cuts and infections, malaria, dysentery, headaches, and viper bites in Chinese traditional medicine. However, at present, the resources of P. microphylla have become extremely scarce. In order to develop and utilize effectively for this valuable natural resources, it is necessary to protect and nurture the resources. Based on the systemic study for the biological characteristics and physiological and ecological adaptability of P. microphylla, we have initially established the tissue culture and non-vitro seedlings¡¯ rapid propagation system of P. microphylla. Key words: Premna microphylla Turcz., Chemical composition, Development and utilization