Hepatoprotective constituents of Torilis radiata Moench (Apiaceae)

An investigation of the aqueous ethanolic extract (AE) of the aerial parts of Torilis radiata Moench yielded two triterpenes (lupeol acetate (1) and alpha-amyrin (2)), a sterol (spinasterol (3)) from its n-hexane fraction (HF), a flavone (acacetin (4)), a coumarin (scopoletin (5)), a phenolic acid (ferulic acid (6)) from the chloroform fraction (CF) and a flavone glycoside (luteolin-7-O-glucoside (7)) from the n-butanol fraction (BF). The hepatoprotection of the AE and its fractions was assessed in terms of the reduction in histological damage, accompanied by restoration of the liver enzymes (alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)), a reduction in the inflammatory markers (tumour necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha), nitric oxide (NO), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and myloperoxidase (MPO) in serum) and restoration of the oxidant balance by decreasing the serum and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, along with increasing the activity of hepatic catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and the non-enzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH).