Antioxidant and Anti-diabetes Activities of Methanolic Extract and Fractions of Astragalus membranaceus Roots

Abstract

The potential biological activities of methanol extract and 5 fractions (hexane, CH₂Cl₂, EtOAc, BuOH and water) from roots of Astragalus membranaceus were examined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging activity, reducing power assays, lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. The EtOAc fraction showed high DPPH free radical scavenging activity (EC??=170.34 ㎍/㎖), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (EC??=32.14 ㎍/㎖), lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (EC??=52.46 ㎍/㎖) and a concentration dependence, with OD value ranging from 0.234 to 0.345 0.1 to 0.5 ㎎/㎖), for reducing power. The EtOAc fraction has the highest total phenolic content (142.13 Gal μg/mg) and the CH2Cl2 fraction has the highest flavonoid content (71.63 Que ㎍/㎎). Meanwhile, hexane and EtOAc showed certain α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities. These results suggest that the methanol extract and fractions from Astragalus membranaceus root have significant antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities, which could be used as a potential source of pharmaceutical materials.