In vitro antioxidant activity of Asparagus racemosus root.

Free radicals are implicated for more than 80 diseases including Diabetes mellitus, arthritis, cancer, ageing. etc. In treatment of theses diseases, antioxidant therapy has gained an utmost importance. Current research is now directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidant of plant origin. In Indian system of medicine Asparagus racemosus is an important medicinal plant and its root paste or root juice has been used in various ailments and as health tonic. To understand the mechanisms of pharmacological actions, the in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Asparagus racemosus was investigated for activity of scavenging superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydrogen peroxide, metal chelation and reducing power. The extract was also studied for lipid peroxidation assay using young and aged rat brain mitochondria. In all the testing, a significant correlation existed between concentrations of the extract and percentage inhibition of free radicals, metal chelation, reducing power or inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant property may be related to the antioxidant vitamins, phenolic acids and micronutrients present in the extract. These results clearly indicate that Asparagus racemosus is effective against free radical mediated diseases