Physiological effects of Asparagus officinalis L. fruit extracts: inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase and angiotensin-I converting enzyme, and effects on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte/adipocyte

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological functions of Asparagus officinalis L. fruit extracts with 70 % ethanol. The polyphenol-concentrated ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of the asparagus fruit extract exhibited high inhibitory activity in vitro, against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme compared to the other fractions. This fraction also exhibited an anti-proliferative effect on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and suppressed lipid accumulation and cell viability of 3T3-L1 adipocytes; it had no such effect on mature adipocytes. This suggests that the anti-lipid accumulation activity of this fraction was due to suppression of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and not direct suppression of lipid accumulation. The effect of the EtOAc fraction on 3T3-L1 cells might be partially attributable to luteolin. Thus, A. officinalis L. fruits contain polyphenols which can potentially prevent lifestyle diseases, with luteolin being a promising candidate.