In vitro evaluation of the pharmacological properties of crude methanol extract and its fractions of Aconitum austrokoreense aerial parts

Although the dried tuberous roots of Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz has been traditionally used to treat various diseases, its aerial part has been considered a useless by-product. In this study, we determined the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of the aerial part of A. austrokoreense to assess its potential benefit to human health. The antioxidant activity was analyzed using two different methods, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and reducing power assays and suggested that the crude methanol extract and butanol fraction possessed strong antioxidant activity. Additionally, the aqueous fraction exhibited not only remarkable antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria but also significant inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells and cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines. Furthermore, correlation analysis between the polyphenolic content and biological activities of the aerial part of A. austrokoreense suggests that phenolic compounds might be major contributors to the DPPH free radical scavenging and anti-cancer activities. Taken together, these findings suggest that the nonmedicinal parts of A. austrokoreense can also be used as a potential natural resource to develop effective dietary health supplements.

Keywords: Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer.