Abstract
Muscari comosum L. bulbs are commonly used as food in South Italy and also in folk medicine. By evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity and biological activities of their aqueous and methanol extracts, we shed light on the potential role, including both the nutraceutical and health benefits, of this plant. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and by the aluminum chloride method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated by three in vitro assays and relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated to compare results obtained by different tests. The extracts were tested to evaluate their possible involvement in redox homeostasis, using the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line used as model. The extracts exhibited concentration/solvent dependent radical scavenging activity, as well as dysregulation of some genes involved in redox pathways by promoting Nrf2, SOD-2, GPX1, ABCC6 and ABCG2 expression. NMR metabolomics analysis suggests that HepG2 cells treated with Muscari comosum extracts experience changes in some metabolites involved in various metabolic pathways.
Highlights
The increase in life expectancy has led to an increase, in Europe and worldwide, in the proportion and in the absolute number of elderly people, which in turn has led to a rise in the prevalence of diseases linked to aging
M. comosum bulbs were extracted with different solvents obtaining different extracts: methanol:water (70:30 v/v) (MET70), methanol:water (50:50 v/v) (MET50), and pure water (WT)
The extraction yield ranged from 7.83% to 10.22%; the highest value was achieved with water as solvent, whereas, MET70 extract showed the lowest value (Table 1)
Summary
The increase in life expectancy has led to an increase, in Europe and worldwide, in the proportion and in the absolute number of elderly people, which in turn has led to a rise in the prevalence of diseases linked to aging (cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders). The area of greatest interest in eating habits as a prototype of a useful diet for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to aging is the Mediterranean area. The Mediterranean diet has been the subject of numerous studies, the contribution provided by wild or semicultivated plants has often been neglected. They are widely consumed in the daily diet of the Mediterranean people; their consumption is often associated with information on a potential therapeutic effect based on the knowledge of popular medicine. Recently has there been an increasing interest in these plant species; in particular several studies have shown their phytonutrient content and potential therapeutic effect [3,4]
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