Wild IAsparagus/I Shoots Constitute a Healthy Source of Bioactive Compounds

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2023-07, Vol.28 (15)
• Main Authors: Chileh Chelh, Tarik, Rincon-Cervera, Miguel A, Gomez-Mercado, Francisco, Lopez-Ruiz, Rosalia, Gallon-Bedoya, Manuela, Ezzaitouni, Mohamed, Guil-Guerrero, Jose L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Colorectal cancer; Vitamins
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155786

Wild Asparagus shoots are consumed worldwide, although most species remain understudied. In this work, a total of four wild Asparagus species were collected from different locations and analyzed compared with farmed A. officinalis. Shoots were screened for (i) phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS; (ii) total phenolic acids and total flavonoid content by the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods; (iii) vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; (iv) antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS[sup.•+] methods; and (v) the in vitro antiproliferative activities against HT-29 colorectal cancer cells by the MTT assay. Phenolics ranged from 107.5 (A. aphyllus) to 605.4 mg/100 g dry weight (dw) (A. horridus). Vitamin C ranged from 15.8 (A. acutifolius) to 22.7 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw) (A. officinalis). The antioxidant activity was similar in all species, standing out in A. officinalis with 5.94 (DPPH) and 4.64 (ABTS) mmol TE/100 g dw. Among phenolics, rutin reached the highest values (574 mg/100 g dw in A. officinalis), followed by quercetin, nicotiflorin, asterin, and narcissin. The MTT assay revealed the inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts against HT-29 cancer cells, highlighting the cell growth inhibition exercised by A. albus (300 µg/mL after 72 h exposure to cells). This work improves knowledge on the phytochemicals and bioactivities of the shoots of wild Asparagus species and confirms their suitability for use as functional foods.