Cellular Antioxidant Potential and Inhibition of the Enzymatic Activities Mediated through Achyranthes aspera Phytocomponents

Various medicines of plant origin have been widely used, by many individuals, showing effective and safe results in combating diseases. Similarly, Achyranthes aspera is among these plants which have many potentials. Different concentrations of solvents (water and ethanol) were used to prepare the extracts A. aspera seeds. The phytochemical analysis of these extracted was conducted to evaluate the phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin contents. However, 25% hydroalcoholic extract of A. aspera (25% HA-Aca) exhibited the highest antioxidant potential by DPPH (IC50 4.17 ± 1.73 mg/mL), ABTS (IC50 117.33 ± 3.02 mg/mL), lipase (IC50 114.4 mg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50 105.4 mg/mL) inhibition activity using in vitro assays. Moreover, a cellular antioxidant assay was also conducted in 3T3-L1 cells revealed that the cells pre-treated with various A. aspera extracts were effective against the oxidative stress. Also, 25% HA-Aca displayed highest free radicals scavenging capability in the cellular antioxidant assay as compared to the other extracts. Stigmasterol, dolichol phosphate and 9'-hydroxy-9'-apo-epsilon-caroten-3-one are the major compounds present in the 25% HA-Aca extract as identified by LC-MS method. These findings suggest that A. aspera phytocomponents can modulate the redox status and regulate the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, which might help in obesity.