MSRUAS-SASTech Journal 49 Vol. 14, Issue 2 Antioxidant Property of the Root of Asparagus Gonoclados Baker (Liliaceae) Ranajit Damodare Tijare, Varadharajan Madhavan, *Anita Murali, S. N. Yoganarasimhan Faculty of Pharmacy, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore 560 054 * Contact Author e-mail: anitamurali.pg.ph@msruas.ac.in Abstract The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant potential of the alcohol and aqueous extracts of root of Asparagus gonoclados Baker by in vitro and in vivo methods. The ability of extracts to scavenge DPPH and superoxide rdaicals was evaluated by in vitro methods. In vivo evaluations were done by CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by administration of CCl4 1.5 mL/kg i.p. following extract treatment for 15 days. Total proteins, catalase and SOD were estimated in liver and MDA was estimated in brain. The studies showed that the alcohol and aqueous extracts at dose levels of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited significant increase in catalase and superoxide levels (p < 0.01) in CCl4 intoxicated rats. Simultaneously, the levels of MDA in brain were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the extract treated groups when compared with the positive control. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts was carried out to detect the presence of various phytoconstituents. HPTLC fingerprint profiles of the detected phytoconstituents were also obtained. Acute toxicity studies revealed that both the alcohol and aqueous extracts were safe up to the dose of 3000 mg/kg on oral administration. Key Words: Asparagus Gonoclados, Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase, Malondialdehyde 1. INTRODUCTION Shatavari is a well known drug in Ayurveda [1] and its accepted botanical source is Asparagus racemosus L [2]. However, many other species of Asparagus L. including Asparagus gonoclados Baker are used as Shatavari [3, 4]. Root tuber of Shatavari (A. racemosus) is considered as one of the Rasayana (adaptogenic) drugs, having cooling, diuretic, emollient, rejuvenating, and stomachic properties [5]. It is useful in the treatment of nervous system disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, tumors, inflammation, tuberculosis, epilepsy and fatigue [6]. A. gonoclados contains phytoconstituents like apigenin, kaempferol, rutin and chalcone glycoside, anthocymin and malvin4. The diuretic, galactogogue, antiulcer and antioxidant properties of A. racemosus have been reported [7-10]. Pharmacognostical studies on root tubers of A. gonoclados have also been reported [11]. In the present work, the effect of alcohol and aqueous extracts of root tuber of A. gonoclados on certain liver antioxidant enzymes and brain antioxidant status have been investigated besides assessing the free radical scavenging of the extracts. 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Plant Material The plant material was collected from the forests situated between Madikeri and Sakleshpur, during March 2006. The plant material was identified and authenticated by Dr. S.N. Yoganarasimhan, Taxonomist and Research coordinator following local floras [12, 13]. 2.2 Preparation of Extracts Alcohol extract was prepared by soxhlation and aqueous extract was prepared by cold maceration. 2.3 Animals Swiss albino mice of either sex, in the weight range of 18 – 25 g, were used for acute toxicity studies and albino rats of Wistar strain, of either sex in the weight range of 180 – 200 g were used for the in vivo antioxidant activity studies. Animals were maintained in accordance with CPCSEA regulations and the study protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of M. S. Ramaiah College of Pharmacy. 2.4 Phytochemical Analysis Preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC studies were carried out on the methanol and aqueous extracts [14, 15]. 2.5 In Vitro Antioxidant Activity Studies DPPH and super oxide scavenging assays were performed [16, 17] to evaluate free radical scavenging ability of the extracts. 2.6 Acute Toxicity Studies The acute toxicity study was carried out following Ghosh [18]. 2.7 In Vivo Antioxidant Activity Albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 180 – 200 g of either sex were used for the study. The animals were divided in to 7 groups containing 6 animals each. Group I was maintained as normal control. Group II was maintained as positive control and administered with CCI4 at a dose of 1.5 mL / kg, i.p. Group III was administered with standard Vit E at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight, orally. Group IV and V animals were administered with alcohol extract at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively orally.