title: Biological activities of Asparagus racemosus.
abstract: Cytotoxic, antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, antimicrobial activities of the crude ethanol extract of dry powdered roots of Asparagus racemosus (Liliaceae) were investigated. The LC(50) to brine shrimp was 2189.49 microg/ml; the EC(50) for DPPH radical scavenging was 381.91 microg/ml; the IC(50) for tyrosinase inhibition was 7.98 mg/ml. The extract was active at 5-20 mg/ml against various pathogenic microbial (16 species, 18 strains) using the agar dilution assay, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 10-20 mg/ml for enteropathogens, the MIC between 5-20 mg/ml for dermatopathogens, and MIC = 10 mg/ml for a pneumonia causing bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae. TLC and HPLC finger printing showed the presence of steroids-terpenes, alkaloids and flavonoids.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceuticals and Natural Products Department, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Technopolis, Thanon Liab Klong 5, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand. buppachart@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Buppachart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Potduang
authors.forename: Maneerat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meeploy
authors.forename: Rattanasiri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giwanon
authors.forename: Yaowaluck
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benmart
authors.forename: Montree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaewduang
authors.forename: Winai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Supatanakul