Phytochemical Characterisation and Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Muscari neglectum (Asparagaceae) Bulbs

<i>Muscari neglectum</i> is a Mediterranean geophyte with a long tradition of ethnomedicinal use, yet the phytochemistry of its bulbs remains underexplored compared with aerial parts. This study aimed to characterise the metabolite profile of <i>M. neglectum</i> bulbs and to assess their antioxidant and radical scavenging potential, and anti-inflammatory potential. Bulb extracts were obtained by hydroethanolic extraction and analysed through HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS, leading to the annotation of 72 compounds spanning diverse chemical families, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and triterpenoid saponins. Flavonoids constituted the most abundant group, with homoisoflavanones representing a characteristic class of metabolites in the <i>Muscari</i> genus and reflecting its distinctive secondary metabolism. Quantitative analyses revealed a high total phenolic content (65.5 mg GAE/g DE) and total flavonoid content (14.3 mg Epi/g DE). Antioxidant assays demonstrated measurable reducing power (FRAP: 0.26 mmol Fe<sup>2+</sup>/g DE; TEAC: 0.45 mmol TE/g DE), while radical scavenging assays indicated activity against superoxide anion (IC<sub>50</sub> = 848 mg/L) and hypochlorous acid (IC<sub>50</sub> = 9.2 mg/L). Additionally, the extract inhibited xanthine oxidase (IC<sub>50</sub> = 20.6 mg/L). Furthermore, the extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, effectively scavenging nitric oxide radicals (IC<sub>50</sub> = 78 ± 3 mg/L) and inhibiting lipoxygenase (IC<sub>50</sub> = 66 ± 2 mg/L), suggesting that phenolic compounds and triterpenoid saponins contribute to the modulation of oxidative and enzymatic inflammatory pathways. These findings highlight <i>M. neglectum</i> bulbs as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. The results provide a chemical basis for their traditional use and reinforce the value of bulb-specific studies within the Asparagaceae family.

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Journal
Molecules
Published
2025-11-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224351
Primary Topic
Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities
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article
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article

Phytochemical Characterisation and Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Muscari neglectum (Asparagaceae) Bulbs

Antonio Segura‐Carretero, Víctor N. Suárez‐Santiago, María del Carmen Villegas-Aguilar
Molecules
Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities
article

Phytochemical Characterisation and Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Muscari neglectum (Asparagaceae) Bulbs

Antonio Segura‐Carretero, Víctor N. Suárez‐Santiago, María del Carmen Villegas-Aguilar
article en

Abstract

<i>Muscari neglectum</i> is a Mediterranean geophyte with a long tradition of ethnomedicinal use, yet the phytochemistry of its bulbs remains underexplored compared with aerial parts. This study aimed to characterise the metabolite profile of <i>M. neglectum</i> bulbs and to assess their antioxidant and radical scavenging potential, and anti-inflammatory potential. Bulb extracts were obtained by hydroethanolic extraction and analysed through HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS, leading to the annotation of 72 compounds spanning diverse chemical families, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and triterpenoid saponins. Flavonoids constituted the most abundant group, with homoisoflavanones representing a characteristic class of metabolites in the <i>Muscari</i> genus and reflecting its distinctive secondary metabolism. Quantitative analyses revealed a high total phenolic content (65.5 mg GAE/g DE) and total flavonoid content (14.3 mg Epi/g DE). Antioxidant assays demonstrated measurable reducing power (FRAP: 0.26 mmol Fe<sup>2+</sup>/g DE; TEAC: 0.45 mmol TE/g DE), while radical scavenging assays indicated activity against superoxide anion (IC<sub>50</sub> = 848 mg/L) and hypochlorous acid (IC<sub>50</sub> = 9.2 mg/L). Additionally, the extract inhibited xanthine oxidase (IC<sub>50</sub> = 20.6 mg/L). Furthermore, the extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, effectively scavenging nitric oxide radicals (IC<sub>50</sub> = 78 ± 3 mg/L) and inhibiting lipoxygenase (IC<sub>50</sub> = 66 ± 2 mg/L), suggesting that phenolic compounds and triterpenoid saponins contribute to the modulation of oxidative and enzymatic inflammatory pathways. These findings highlight <i>M. neglectum</i> bulbs as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. The results provide a chemical basis for their traditional use and reinforce the value of bulb-specific studies within the Asparagaceae family.

MoleculesVol. 30(22)
Universidad de Granada (ES)
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities
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