Wild Asparagus Shoots Constitute a Healthy Source of Bioactive Compounds

Wild Asparagus shoots are consumed worldwide, although most species remain understudied. In this work, a total of four wild Asparagus species were collected from different locations and analyzed compared with farmed A. officinalis. Shoots were screened for (i) phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS; (ii) total phenolic acids and total flavonoid content by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods; (iii) vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; (iv) antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS•+ methods; and (v) the in vitro antiproliferative activities against HT-29 colorectal cancer cells by the MTT assay. Phenolics ranged from 107.5 (A. aphyllus) to 605.4 mg/100 g dry weight (dw) (A. horridus). Vitamin C ranged from 15.8 (A. acutifolius) to 22.7 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw) (A. officinalis). The antioxidant activity was similar in all species, standing out in A. officinalis with 5.94 (DPPH) and 4.64 (ABTS) mmol TE/100 g dw. Among phenolics, rutin reached the highest values (574 mg/100 g dw in A. officinalis), followed by quercetin, nicotiflorin, asterin, and narcissin. The MTT assay revealed the inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts against HT-29 cancer cells, highlighting the cell growth inhibition exercised by A. albus (300 µg/mL after 72 h exposure to cells). This work improves knowledge on the phytochemicals and bioactivities of the shoots of wild Asparagus species and confirms their suitability for use as functional foods.

Protective effects of Asparagus officinalis (asparagus) against lead toxicity in mice

One of the most prevalent harmful heavy metals is lead (Pb). It is generally recognized to be harmful to the testicles. Asparagus officinalis has many saponins, flavonoids, and other phenolics with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The effects of A. officinalis (asparagus) aqueous extract (AOAE) on testicular damage caused by lead acetate (PbAc) were investigated in this study. In this way, 20 mg/kg PbAc was injected intraperitoneally 2 h after mice were administered 400 mg/kg AOAE orally for 14 days. In the biochemical analysis of testicular tissue, PbAc decreased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant molecules in testicular tissue, while increasing lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, inflammatory markers [nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 β), IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)], and apoptotic-related proteins. Additionally, PbAc was discovered to reduce sperm motility and increase the percentage of dead sperm. However, due to its antioxidant qualities, AOAE has been found to reduce oxidative stress, therefore protecting against inflammation and apoptosis. It also allowed the AOAE sperm parameters to restore to their previous values in the control group. According to the findings, AOAE could be a natural substance that could be used to treat Pb-induced testicular toxicity; this protection may be attributed to its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. However, this study warrants further works to explore in detail the underlying mechanisms of the alleviating effects of AOAE against Pb-induced toxicity and which of its active ingredients is responsible for this protection.