title: Chelating, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic potential of Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. bulb extracts.
abstract: The metal chelating activity, antioxidant properties and the effect on carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzyme inhibition of Muscari comosum extracts have been investigated. M. comosum bulbs contain a total amount of the phenols with a value of 56.6 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent per gram of extract and a flavonoid content of 23.4 mg quercetin equivalent per gram of extract. In order to evaluate the non-polar constituents, n-hexane extract was obtained. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of fatty acids and ethyl esters as major constituents, with different aldehydes and alkanes as minor components. Ethanolic extract had the highest ferric-reducing ability power (66.7 μM Fe(II)/g) and DPPH scavenging activity with a concentration giving 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) value of 40.9 μg/ml. Moreover, this extract exhibited a good hypoglycaemic activity with IC₅₀ values of 81.3 and 112.8 μg/ml for α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. In conclusion, M. comosum bulbs show promising antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activity via the inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes. These activities may be of interest from a functional point of view and for the revalorization of this ancient non-cultivated vegetable of Mediterranean traditional gastronomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy. mr.loizzo@unical.it
authors.forename: Monica R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tundis
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonesi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Solimene
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D059808:Polyphenols; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D058085:Iron Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases