Assessment of Quality Control Parameters and Nutrient Composition of a Herbal Supplement Asparagus falcatus L. for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Abstract

Background: Herbal supplements have been used to manage liver diseases worldwide. Determination of safety, quality control parameters and nutrient composition in herbal supplements is an important consideration before conducting prospective phase I and II clinical trials. Objectives: To assess quality control parameters and proximate nutrient composition of a newly developed herbal supplement, Asparagus falcatus L. (Family: Asparagaceae) using in vitro protocols Methods: Aqueous refluxed (4h) leaf extract of A. falcatus was prepared and freeze-dried. Physicochemical parameters were determined according to the World Health Organization standard methods. A high-performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) was developed by using a solvent system of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile at a ratio of 9:1. The analysis of microbial contamination was carried out using the Sri Lanka Standard method. The determination of heavy metals and proximate nutrient composition was carried out according to the Association of Analytical Communities standard methods.

Results: Physicochemical analysis revealed that the herbal supplement had total ash, water soluble ash, and acid-insoluble ash at 6.8±0.4%, 2.3±0.1%, and 0.01±0.0%, respectively. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents in the supplement. The microbial analysis yielded negative results for aerobic plate count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast, and mould. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were not detected in the herbal supplement. The fiber, lipid, protein, and carbohydrate content of the herbal supplement were 16.16±0.85%, 1.03±0.20%, 6.17±0.35%, and 69.80±0.69%, respectively. Further, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron were present as minerals in the herbal supplement. Conclusions: The physicochemical, HPLC, microbial, and heavy metal analysis ensure the overall quality of the herbal supplement A. falcatus. The presence of carbohydrate, protein, lipid, fiber, and minerals provided extra nutritional value to the herbal supplement to be used as a nutraceutical.