Antioxidant and antinociceptive effects of hydroalcoholic root extract of Asparagus officinalis L.

Abstract

Introduction: Asparagus officinalis L. is a medicinal plant, which contains various natural bioactive phytochemicals with potential different pharmacological activities. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and antinociceptive activities of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from asparagus roots. Methods: The plant material was extracted using ethanol 70% and preliminary phytochemical analyses were carried out. The in vitro antioxidant effects of the plant extract were evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and total reducing ability compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a standard control. The antinociceptive effects were also assessed using formalin and tail-flick test in male Wistar rats. Results: The plant extract was relatively rich in flavonoids. The IC50 value for DPPH scavenging activity of the extract (1117.65±14.26 μg/ml) was significantly higher than that of BHT (64.35±4.09 μg/ml). The plant extract exerted a significantly lower total reducing ability compared to that of BHT. The extract exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect at the early stage of formalin test in the dose of 500mg/kg intraperitoneally. The results of tail-flick test also demonstrated antinociceptive effects compared to control in a dose-dependent manner. However, these antinociceptive activities were not comparable with morphine as a reference agent. Conclusion: A. officinalis roots extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant and antinociceptive activities and it might be attributed to its flavonoids content.

Literature analysis on asparagus roots and review of its functional characterizations

“…In particular, saponins, polyphenols, and flavonoids have been reported to have health benefits, as summarized in Table 2. For example, it was reported that there are antiglycation (7) and anticancer activities (6) for bioactive compounds from A. racemosus roots and antinociceptive and antioxidant effects for A. officinalis roots (8). Three species of asparagus, including A. cochinchinensis, A. officinalis, and A. racemosus, have been widely studied for their health benefits (6).…”

“…A. officinalis Roots Antioxidant effect: The IC50 value for DPPH scavenging activity of the extract (ethanol 70%) (1,117.65 ± 14.26 µg/ml) was significantly higher than that of BHT as control (8) Antinociceptive effects: Formalin and tail-flick test in male Wistar rats exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect at the early stage of the formalin test in the dose of 500 mg/kg intraperitoneally (8).…”

“…For instance, alkaloids, tannins, and proteins were present in the aqueous extracts, whereas steroids and saponins were predominantly found in alcoholic extracts of ARs. Different extraction solvents could solvate different phenolic compounds from ARs, affecting the biological activity of the extracts, e.g., the antibacterial activity ( 8 ). Many bioactive compounds (such as steroids, phytosterols, carbohydrates, tannins, anthraquinones, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, amino acids, and alkaloids) were reported by Ahmad et al ( 7 ) from aqueous extracts of ARs.…”

“…They possess various physiological activities, including antiatherogenic, antialgenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and vasodilatory and cardioprotective effects ( 36 ). Therefore, there is much interest in plants containing polyphenols, as they can provide several beneficial effects on health attributed to their antioxidant activity ( 7 , 8 ).…”

“…Asparagus root has been used for over 2,000 years as a medicine prescription ( 8 ). AR was used to produce commercial medicinal products in the modern era for clinical settings.…”