Biological Activities of Wild Asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.)

Abstract

Asparagus acutifolius L. (wild asparagus) is an edible plant species thatis widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean. This study was designed toinvestigate the phenolic compounds, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of ethanoland water extracts of different parts (fruits and leaves) of A. acutifolius. Theantioxidant activities of these extracts were analyzed using scavenging methods(DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity), the ß-carotene/linoleic acid test system andthe phosphomolybdenum method. Among the evaluations of the ethanol and waterextracts of the different parts of A. acutifolius, the ethanol extract of the leaves wasshown to have the highest amount of radical scavenging activities (DPPH, 0.383mg/mL and ABTS, 0.145 mg/mL). Each extract of A. acutifolius exhibited strongantioxidant capacities with the ß-carotene/Linoleic acid test system. For thephosphomolybdenum method, the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was in therange of 8.89-45.29 µg/mg and each extract exhibited high cytotoxic activities. Theresults will provide additional information for future studies on the biologicalactivities of A. acutifolius, while also helping us to understand the importance ofthis species.