Hawk tea is a rich and edible resource, traditionally used as a beverage in South China. This drink has many pharmacologic effects, such as acting as an antioxidant and reducing blood sugar and lipids. The objective of this work was to explore the active compound contents, bioactivities and their monthly changes, and optimize the harvest time. In the present study, Hawk tea from each month in 2017 was collected and extracted with 70% (v/v) ethanol. The contents of the total flavonoids and total phenols were determined using the colorimetric method. We determined the contents of seven characteristic active substances-hyperin, isoquercitrin, trifolin, quercitrin, astragalin, quercetin, and kaempferol-using high-performance liquid chromatography. The crude extract was tested for its antioxidant and inhibitory properties on enzymes involved in metabolic syndrome. Specifically, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), ferric-reducing power assay, and the inhibition capacity test on α-glucosidase and lipase were conducted to determine the antioxidant effect in vitro, as well as the reduction of blood sugar and lipids. Monthly variations in activities and components were determined by numeric analysis and comparison. Correlation analysis revealed that antioxidant effects are significantly correlated with the total flavonoids. The hierarchical cluster analysis of bioactivities and their contents indicates that October and November are the best harvesting months, which differs with the habitual collection of Hawk tea.
Keywords: Hawk tea; active components; antioxidant; monthly variation; α-glucosidase and lipase.