Chelating, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic potential of Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. bulb extracts

• Published in: International journal of food sciences and nutrition Vol. 61; no. 8; p. 780
• Main Authors: Loizzo, Monica R, Tundis, Rosa, Menichini, Federica, Pugliese, Alessandro, Bonesi, Marco, Solimene, Umberto, Menichini, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-2010
• Subjects: alpha-Amylases - metabolism; alpha-Glucosidases - metabolism; Antioxidants - analysis; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Chelating Agents - analysis; Chelating Agents - pharmacology; Esters - analysis; Esters - pharmacology; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids - pharmacology; Flavonoids - analysis; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - analysis; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Iron Compounds - metabolism; Liliaceae - chemistry; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots; Polyphenols
• ISSN: 1465-3478
• DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2010.482521

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.