Extraction and analysis of antioxidant compounds from the residues of Asparagus officinalis L.

Introduction

Asparagus officinalis L., a well known healthy vegetable, which was named as “the king of vegetables” for its rich bioactive compounds, now is widely consumed all over the world. Bioactive components, such as flavonoid, lignan and steroidal saponin were found in this plant. Pharmacological studies demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and antifungal activities. In some countries, it had been used as an anticancer herbal medicine for a long time. In China, asparagus was also used as a medicine, to treat cough, inflammation, fungal infection and cancer. In pharmacological studies, the extract from asparagus was shown to have several biological activities, such as antioxidant activity.

Asparagus spears and stem were usually processed into canned products in food industry, while the residues through processing were discarded, which caused environmental pollution and resources wastes. Therefore, the recycling of the residues has become an important task in food industry. A systematic reduction in waste disposal would be profitable in economical and ecological aspects. Currently, agricultural residues have become focused as materials on the production of bioactive compound. Many of bioactive compounds were mainly located in the lower portions of the asparagus spears, which were discarded during the industrial processin, it is of practical interest to add value to the residues by obtaining functional extract containing one or more of bioactive compounds. Therefore, it is necessary to recycle asparagus residues from wastes to supplements for food and pharmaceutical industries.