Bioactive compound, polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity of Asparagus racemosus Linn. root extract

Asparagus racemosus Linn. is an ethnopharmacologically important plant having extensive uses in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. This study was carried out to evaluate the chemical profile of A. racemosus Linn. using GC-MS and FT-IR analysis, and its polyphenol content and antioxidant effects. Plants were collected from Bhujiyaghat, Nainital (29.3159 degrees N, 79.5245 degrees E) in Kumaun Himalayas. GC-MS with FT-IR analysis identified multiple functional groups, including carboxylic acid derivatives. Methyl 11, 12-octadecadienoate, was screened as the major compounds by GC-MS. A. racemosus contains a high concentration of phenols (80.92 +/- 0.57 mg of GAE/g of DW), flavonoids (58.22 +/- 1.62 mg of QE/g of DW), and tannins (86.77 +/- 0.81 mg of TAE/g of DW). DPPH (24.63 +/- 0.21 g/ml) and FRAP (72.49483 +/- 0.130549 mg of AAE/g of DW) assays revealed the presence of significant antioxidant activity in A. racemosus.