Identification of Hepatoprotective Constituents in Limonium tetragonum and Development of Simultaneous Analysis Method using High-performance Liquid Chromatography.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Limonium tetragonum, a naturally salt-tolerant halophyte, has been studied recently and is of much interest to researchers due to its potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we attempted to elucidate bioactive compounds from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction of L. tetragonum extract. Furthermore, the simultaneous analysis method of bioactive EtOAc fraction of L. tetragonum has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen compounds have been successfully isolated from EtOAc fraction of L. tetragonum, and the structures of 1-13 were elucidated by extensive one-dimensional and two-dimensional spectroscopic methods including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-1H COSY, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy. Hepatoprotection of the isolated compounds against liver fibrosis was evaluated by measuring inhibition on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) undergoing proliferation. RESULTS: Compounds 1-13 were identified as gallincin (1), apigenin-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranoside (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranoside (4), (-)-epigallocatechin (5), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (6), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-(3″-O-methyl) gallate (7), myricetin-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranoside (8), myricetin-3-O-(6″-O-galloyl)-ß-D-galactopyranoside (9), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (10), myricetin-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (11), myricetin-3-O-(3″-O-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), and myricetin-3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (13), respectively. All compounds except for 4, 8, and 10 are reported for the first time from this plant. CONCLUSION: Myricetin glycosides which possess galloyl substituent (9, 11, and 12) showed most potent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HSCs. SUMMARY: In the present study, we have successfully isolated 13 compounds from bioactive fraction of Limonium tetragonum. The structures of compounds isolated have been fully elucidated, and hepatoprotective activities of compounds against liver fibrosis were evaluated by measuring inhibition on hepatic stellate cells undergoing proliferation. Furthermore, the simultaneous analysis method of bioactive ethyl acetate fraction of L. tetragonum has been developed using HPLC. Ten compounds identified herein are reported for the first time from this plant.Abbreviations used HSQC Heteronuclear single quantum coherence; HMBC Heteronuclear multiple bond correlation; NOESY Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy; EGCG Epigallocatechin-3-gallate; EGC Epigallocatechin; HSC Hepatic stellate cell; MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.