Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Agave attenuata

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine various biological activities of a methanol extract of Agave attenuata leaves. GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction from the extract revealed the presence of 31 compounds, with mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (11.37%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (6.33%), n-docosane (6.30%) and eicosane (6.02%) as the major components. The leaves contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents (10.541–39.35 GAE, mg/100 g) and total flavonoid contents (43.35–304.8 CE, mg/100 g). The extract and some of its fractions showed moderate antimicrobial effects. Leaves extract and fractions also exhibited a good antioxidant potential when measured by DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. The hemolytic effect of the plant was found to be in a range of 1.01%–2.64%. From the present study it is concluded that this plant could be used as a source of natural antioxidants and functional food nutraceutical applications.

Saponins of Agave: Chemistry and bioactivity

“…The primary metabolites include carbohydrates (Mellado-Mojica and Lopez, 2015;Soto et al, 2013) and processed Agave syrups are increasingly recognized as natural sweeteners, functional foods and prebiotics (AvilaFernandez et al, 2011;Mellado-Mojica and Lopez, 2015;NavaCruz et al, 2014). Agave plants contain secondary metabolites of diverse classes, such as steroidal sapogenins and saponins, sterols (Hernandez-Valle et al, 2014), flavonoids (Ahumada- Santos et al, 2013;Almaraz-Abarca et al, 2013;Barriada-Bernal et al, 2013;Hammuel et al, 2011), homoisoflavonoids (Morales-Serna et al, 2010;Tinto et al, 2005), phenolic acids , tannins (Ahumada- Santos et al, 2013;Hammuel et al, 2011), volatile coumarins (Ahumada- Santos et al, 2013), long chain alkanes, fatty acids and alcohols (Morales-Serna et al, 2010;Rizwan et al, 2012;Tinto et al, 2005). Steroidal sapogenins and saponins are perhaps the most widely studied compounds in this genus and also the focus of this review.…”

“…The chloroform fraction of this extract also showed strong inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani and A. flavus with MIC of 20.4 and 25.1 mg/mL, respectively. The nbutanol fraction of the same extract inhibited Escherichia coli with an MIC of 15.2 mg/mL (Rizwan et al, 2012).…”

“…Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of different Agave species was done using disc-diffusion or well-diffusion methods (Hammuel et al, 2011;Rizwan et al, 2012;Santos et al, 2009;Verastegui et al, 2008). The saponin-rich methanol and aqueous extracts of A. sisalana were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential.…”

<i>In vivo</i> antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract of <i>dioclea reflexa</i> seed in rats following acute or chronic liver injury

“…The ability of the D. reflexa seed methanol extract to protect and ameliorate the organs of the rat against oxidative stress-related damage should be as a result of its polyphenols and flavonoids content, since polyphenols, especially flavonoids have been reported to exert positive effects on human health through their antioxidant properties and antimutagenic properties (Norhaiza et al, 2009;Atawodi, 2012, ;Nisar et al, 2012;Rizwan et al, 2012;Vauzour et al, 2010). However, studies are underway to establish the specific polyphenols in D. reflexa seeds that are responsible for these desirable health effects.…”

“…Spices and herbs are recognized as sources of natural antioxidants that can protect man from oxidetive stress and thus play an important role in the chemoprevention against diseases that have their etiology and pathophysiology in reactive oxygen species (Atawodi, 2005;Rizwan et al, 2012;Vauzour et al, 2010). Thus, it has been recommended that adequate intake of antioxidant through the consumption of antioxidant rich foods can prevent the development of oxidative stress (Lako et al, 2008;Atawodi, 2012;Nisar et al, 2012).…”