국내외에서 재배, 유통되고 있는 다류소재 식물류 40종에 대하여 총 페놀성 물질과 비타민 C 함량은 비색법으로, ${alpha}-tocopherol$과 ${eta}-carotene$ 함량은 HPLC에 의해, 셀레늄 함량은 원자흡광법을 이용하여 분석하였다. 시료 100 g당(건량) 들어있는 총 페놀성 물질 함량은 녹차잎, 홍차잎, 우롱차잎, 인스탄트커피 등이 약 7g으로 가장 높았고 셀레늄 함량은 산수유와 칡이 약 $4{mu}g$으로 가장 높았다. ${eta}-carotene$ 함량은 두충$(8587{mu}g)$, 감잎$(6222{mu}g)$, 녹차잎$(3652{mu}g)$ 등이 매우 높았다. ${alpha}-tocopherol$ 함량은 감잎(33 mg), 두충(26 mg), 녹차잎(16 mg), 홍차잎(13 mg) 순으로 높았으며, 비타민 C 함량은 녹차잎(199 mg)과 홍차잎(117 mg)이 가장 높았다.
Forty plants used as tea materials were chosen for determining the contents of total phenolics, selenium (Se), ${eta}-carotene$, ${alpha}-tocopherol$ and ascorbate. Total phenolics and ascorbate contents were analyzed colorimetrically. The Se contents were measured by hydride-atomic absorption spectrometry. The contents of ${eta}-carotene$ and ${alpha}-tocopherol$ were simultaneously determined by high performance liquid chromatography using separate detectors, UV for ${eta}-carotene$ and FL for ${alpha}-tocopherol$ analyses. The contents of these antioxidants were as follows (per 100 g dry plant); Contents of total phenolics in green tea leaf, black tea leaf, oolong tea leaf and instant coffee were about 7 g and the Se contents in corni fructus and arrowroot were found to be about $4{mu}g$, which were the highest among all plants used. Contents of ${eta}-carotene$ in eucommiae cortex, persimmon leaf and green tea leaf were 8587, 6222 and $3652;{mu}g$ respectively. The persimon leaf contained the highest ${alpha}-tocopherol$ content (33 mg) and then followed by eucommiae cortex (26 mg), green tea leaf (16 mg) and black tea leaf (13 mg) in order. Ascorbate contents were found to be high in green tea leaf (199 mg) and black tea leaf (117 mg).
