Natural bioactive compounds of Asparagus: A study of antioxidant and antibacterial activity

Ornamental plants, beyond their aesthetic appeal, possess notable therapeutic and medicinal properties. Asparagus setaceus, commonly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, is known for its bioactive compounds, including phenols, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial efficacy, and bioactive compound profiling of A. setaceus leaf extract. Soxhlet extraction with methanol was used in the analysis; the total polyphenol and flavonoid content were estimated to be 121 mg GAE/g and 0.16 mg QE/g, respectively. Dose-dependent antioxidant activity was obtained in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Through agar diffusion, an inhibition zone of 20 mm as compared to standard antibiotic control was shown, revealing significant inhibition of the Escherichia coli bacterium in antimicrobial activity assayed. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 168 bioactive compounds, among which dimethyl ether and hexadecanoic acid were the most abundant, and therefore, have potential therapeutic use, especially in antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The present findings support the pharmacological importance of A. setaceus as a source of bioactive constituents, which merits further research for therapeutic purposes.