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.
