Biological activities of Asparagus racemosus.
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.
Potduang
Buppachart
B
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
Meeploy
Maneerat
M
Giwanon
Rattanasiri
R
Benmart
Yaowaluck
Y
Kaewduang
Montree
M
Supatanakul
Winai
W