In fifteen commonly used vegetables, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content and individual components of the NDF were determined. The content of NDF of the fresh vegetables follows the order: amaranth>water convolvulus>spinach>borecole>mustard leaves>carrot>cau1if1ower>pe-tsai>celery>garland chrysanthemum>field mustard>pe-tsai, chin-chian>radish>pe-tsai, San-tong>cabbage. Among the fractions of NDF, cellulose was found to be the major com-ponent. While lignin content appeared to be the lowest in most vegetables except field mustard, pe-tsai, celery and radish. The hemicellulose contents of amaranth and spinach were relatively high (48.5% and 41.5% respectively)’ but their cellulose contents were lower (44.3% and 49.1%). In the case of celery and field mustard, hemicellulose contents were only 1.7 and 3.5 percent respectively. In vitro experiment on the bile acid binding capacity of NDF revealed that dihy-droxy-bile acids can be absorbed in larger extent than the trihydroxy-bile acids. Yet, the NDF appeared to absorb more unconjugated bile acids than the corresponding conjugated bile acids. The present findings suggested that the binding could possibly be due to hydrophobic bonding. Among the tested vegetables, spinach and amaranth showed higher binding capacity. The larger content of hemicellulose, as well as lignin, was considered to be the primary factor for such result.
In fifteen commonly used vegetables, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content and individual components of the NDF were determined. The content of NDF of the fresh vegetables follows the order: amaranth>water convolvulus>spinach>borecole>mustard leaves>carrot>cau1if1ower>pe-tsai>celery>garland chrysanthemum>field mustard>pe-tsai, chin-chian>radish>pe-tsai, San-tong>cabbage. Among the fractions of NDF, cellulose was found to be the major com-ponent. While lignin content appeared to be the lowest in most vegetables except field mustard, pe-tsai, celery and radish. The hemicellulose contents of amaranth and spinach were relatively high (48.5% and 41.5% respectively)’ but their cellulose contents were lower (44.3% and 49.1%). In the case of celery and field mustard, hemicellulose contents were only 1.7 and 3.5 percent respectively. In vitro experiment on the bile acid binding capacity of NDF revealed that dihy-droxy-bile acids can be absorbed in larger extent than the trihydroxy-bile acids. Yet, the NDF appeared to absorb more unconjugated bile acids than the corresponding conjugated bile acids. The present findings suggested that the binding could possibly be due to hydrophobic bonding. Among the tested vegetables, spinach and amaranth showed higher binding capacity. The larger content of hemicellulose, as well as lignin, was considered to be the primary factor for such result.