Abstract: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the nutritional value and health risk of different layers (inner, middle and outer) of Chinese cabbage leaves. The morphological indexes, mineral contents, antioxidant capacity and heavy metal contents of Chinese cabbage leaves were determined and the data were then analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, the nutritional value was evaluated by calculating the index of nutritional quality (INQ), and the human health risk was evaluated by calculating health risk index (HRI) and target hazard quotient (THQ). The results showed that the outer layer of Chinese cabbage leaves had better comprehensive performance in terms of morphological indexes, mineral contents and antioxidant capacity, and higher nutritional value than the other two layers. The health risk assessment of different layers of Chinese cabbage leaves for adults and children showed that there was no significant risk associated with any of the heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Mn, Zn, Cu) examined except Hg, and the health risk of consuming the outer layer was higher than that of consuming the inner layer, which may be due to the direct exposure of the outer layer; children were more sensitive to the health risk of heavy metals from the consumption of Chinese cabbage than adults.

Key words: Chinese cabbage; different layers; minerals; antioxidant capacity; comprehensive evaluation