Antioxidant and Anti-Obesity Potentials of Korean-Native Wild Vegetables (Allium species)

Ji Yeon Lee,Min Hye Kang,Eun Young Lee,Kyung Hye Seo,Hyung Don Kim,Yun-Jeong Ji,Hyun-A Seong,Yun Ji Lee

doi:10.3390/horticulturae7120541

Ji Yeon Lee, Min Hye Kang + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120541

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Abstract

Four Korea-native wild vegetables belonging to the Allium genus (Allium tuberosum Rottl., Allium senescens L., Allium thunbergii G. Don., and Allium sacculiferum Maxim.) were investigated for their antioxidant and anti-obesity potential, in order to promote the utilization of wild edible plants for the development of potential new crops. In this study, we compared the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts by ABTS+ and DPPH scavenging method. We then compared the anti-adipogenic effects of the extracts in adipocytes. We quantified the phenolics in the extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify the bioactive compounds. A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum had a higher total phenolic content (19.0 ± 0.3 and 19.6 ± 0.7 mg GA/g extract, respectively) than A. senescens and A. thunbergii (16.0 ± 0.2 and 14.5 ± 0.7 mg GA/g extract). Caffeic acid, an antioxidant and anti-adipogenic compound, was detected in A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum, but not in A. senescens and A. thunbergii. A. tuberosum, and A. sacculiferum showed superior antioxidative and anti-adipogenic activities compared to A. senescens and A. thunbergii. Therefore, A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum, both of which contain antioxidant and anti-adipogenic phenolics, such as caffeic acid, present a therapeutic potential against obesity. Various phenolic compounds, which have been found to differ among Allium spp., may partially account for differences among the Allium spp. with respect to their antioxidant and anti-obesity effects.

Highlights

Introduction iationsGlobally, obesity has emerged as a major cause of various metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis
(A. tuberosum, A. senescens, A. thunbergii, and A. sacculiferum) in identical environmental conditions and determined their antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities. We investigated their bioactive components by total phenol (TP) content analysis and phenolic profiling
The stem diameter and root length differed considerably between A. tuberosum and A. sacculiferum, but the number of leaves did not show a significant difference among species

Summary

Introduction

Obesity has emerged as a major cause of various metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. It is known that high-fat or highcalorie diets can cause hyperlipidemia, obesity, increased oxidative stress, and increased inflammation [1]. Oxidative stress disrupts the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems [2]. Oxidative stress causes cellular DNA damage and the oxidation of enzyme cofactors, resulting in various diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging processes [3]. Oxidative stress promotes adipogenesis through NADPH oxidase, a major source of intracellular lipid and ROS generation [4]. Oxidative stress, including free radicals and ROS, can be inhibited or eliminated by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants to maintain cell balance [5]

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