Nutritional Quality Differences of Leaves in a Cabbage Head

摘要

Cabbage is one of the most important vegetables in the world market. It is rich in nutrients beneficial to human health. The cabbage head is comprised of many leaves ranging from the outer to the inner part which may have different nutritional content. Cabbage heads harvested from Phu-Tub-Berg area, Petchaboon province, Thailand, were used in this study and individual leaves were separated and grouped into outermost leaves (L1-L3), outer-middle leaves (L4-L10), inner-middle leaves (L11-L17), and innermost leaves (L18-L24). Chemical analyses showed that chlorophyll, carotenoid and vitamin C contents were highest in outermost leaves and progressively decreased with increasing internal positioning of the leaves in the cabbage head than in middle and were lowest in inner leaves. Total soluble solids (TSS) content showed a reverse trend as it was highest in innermost leaves.