莲子食用价值研究进展

Progress in studies on nutritional value of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.seeds

莲(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)为莲科莲属多年生水生双子叶被子植物,在世界上具有广泛的分布。莲的用途广泛,其各个组织器官都可以食用或药用。莲的种子即莲子是一种广受欢迎的食物,既可鲜食也可加工成各种莲子产品后食用。莲子中含有丰富的淀粉、蛋白质、多糖、氨基酸、矿质元素、酚类、生物碱等成分,既能食用,也具有保健价值。前人对莲子的生长发育及营养价值已经开展了较多的研究,在此基础上,该文主要针对莲子的营养成分、保健功效和加工工艺进行综述,并对莲子的开发应用前景和限制因素进行总结和展望。

Lotus(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)in the family Nelumbonaceae is an aquatic eudicot with wide global distribution.It has a very long history of cultivation,especially in South and East Asia,and almost every tissue can be used as food or medicine.In particular,lotus seeds can be consumed either freshly or as processed food.These seeds contain abundant nutrients,including starch,proteins,polysaccharides,amino acids,mineral elements,polyphenols,and alkaloids,which makes them suitable for both nutritional and medicinal use.Many studies have focused on the development and nutritional values of these seeds.Here,we summarize the latest knowledge on the nutritional composition,function,and processing technology of lotus seeds.We also discuss the potential uses and limitations of these seeds.This review should provide some insights into the breeding and industrialization of N.nucifera seeds.