Evaluation of Antioxidant, Mutagenicity, and Anti-mutagenicity Potential of Astragalus gossypinus Fisch. Extracts

Abstract

Background: Astragalus gossypinus Fisch. is one of the Astragalus (Leguminosae) species that has been used in traditional medicine due to its phenomenal pharmacological and biological activities. Objective: In this research, the mutagenicity, anti-mutagenicity, and antioxidant potential of two different extracts of root (chloroform and ethyl acetate) and chloroform extract of aerial parts of Astragalus gossypinus were investigated. Methods: Antioxidant property was expressed as the ability of each extract to scavenge the free radicals like DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and mutagenicity and anti-mutagenicity were evaluated with the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100. Results: All extracts exhibited antioxidant capacity. Among them, the ethyl acetate extract of the root (IC50 = 289.29 μg/mL) was reported to be the best one, followed by the chloroform extract of the root (IC50 = 327.2 μg/mL), probably due to a higher percentage of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in these extracts. Chloroform extract of the root had the strongest anti-mutagenicity on S. typhimurium strain TA100, with a potential anti-mutagenic index ranging from 90.4867±5.84227 % to 50.2950±1.37308 %. Moreover, all tested extracts have neither direct nor indirect exerted mutagenic activity against this special strain of S. typhimurium. In the present research, saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds are proposed to be antioxidant and antimutagenic agents in all extracts. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the potent antioxidant and anti-mutagenic activity of A. gossypinus make it possible to use it as a natural antioxidant or bio-preservative in various medicinal formulations and cancer prevention.