PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EVALUATION OF NANNORRHOPS RITCHIANA IN RATS

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the phenolic and flavonoid compounds present in 70% methanol extract of the leaves of Nannorrhops ritchiana using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method analysis and to evaluate hepatoprotective activity, not previously studied, for this plant. GC–MS analysis of n-hexane extract of this plant was utilized, to identify the bioactive constituents of long chain hydrocarbons, acids esters, steroids and terpenes. Seven flavonoids and twelve phenolic acids were identified. Five of the flavonoids (Epihesperidin, demethoxycentaureidin7-O- rutinoside, icariin, datiscin, isoschaftoside), and nine of the phenolic acids (Quinic acid, p-hydrobenzoic acid, caftaric acid, caffeoylshikimic acid, malic acid, chlorogenic acid, 2-naphthoxyacetic acid, 3-(2- hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, D-glucaric), were reported for the first time from this species. Thirty one phytochemical compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis, phytol had the highest peak area of 19.82% and the lowest was stigmasterol showing 0.25%. The methanol extract of the plant was evaluated in D-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. At the doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, the extract significantly reduced the increased activity of serum enzymes and bilirubin, which were comparable to that of reference drug silymarin and D-galactosamine revealing its hepatoprotective effect. The extract had accelerated the return of the altered levels of the oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory markers to the near normal profile in the dose dependent manner, also, histopathological examination, showed good recovery of necrosis. Hence, hepatoprotective activity of methanol extract may be related to the fact that it contains a combination of different phytochemicals and bioactive constituents.