December 29/Rende, Italy/Life Science Weekly -- Research findings, "Chelating, Antioxidant and Hypoglycaemic Potential of Muscari Comosum (L.) Mill. Bulb Extracts," are discussed in a new report. According to recent research from Rende, Italy, "The metal chelating activity, antioxidant properties and the effect on carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzyme inhibition of Muscari comosum extracts have been investigated. M. comosum bulbs contain a total amount of the phenols with a value of 56.6mg chlorogenic acid equivalent per gram of extract and a flavonoid content of 23.4mg quercetin equivalent per gram of extract. In order to evaluate the non-polar constituents, n-hexane extract was obtained."

"Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of fatty acids and ethyl esters as major constituents, with different aldehydes and alkanes as minor components. Ethanolic extract had the highest ferric-reducing ability power (66.7 M Fe(II)/g) and DPPH scavenging activity with a concentration giving 50% inhibition (IC50) value of 40.9 g/ml," wrote M.R. Loizzo and colleagues, University of Calabria.