The physicochemical and nutritional properties of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix samples as well as the levels of benzopyrene production were investigated at different roasting temperatures and times. An analysis of benzopyrene using samples roasted at 180°C and 120°C for 4 min revealed no benzopyrene. The browning intensities and total phenol contents were mostly high under further roasting conditions. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities also increased after the roasting procedure, and the samples roasted at 180°C for 4 min showed the highest levels. An analysis of the constituent amino acid and free amino acid contents revealed aspartic acid and arginine to be highest in both the constituent and free amino acids and they increased with increasing roasting temperature and time. In addition, the constituent amino acids and free amino acids showed a high level of glutamic acid and γ-amino butyric acid, which affects the physiological activity, respectively. These results provide basic data on the nutritional content of C. wilfordii Radix in the food industry.

Keywords: Cynanchi wilfordii Radix, roasting, total phenol contents, antioxidant, amino acids