Protective Effects of Extracts, Isolated Compounds from <i>Desmodium uncinatum</i> and Semi-Synthetic Isovitexin Derivatives against Lipid Peroxidation of Hepatocyte’s Membranes

Abstract

Lipid peroxidation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenicity and maintenance of hepatitis. Thus, substances protecting hepatocyte membranes from lipid peroxidation are of great importance in the management of hepatotoxicity and hepatitis. The present work deals with the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of the methanol extract of Desmodium uncinatum, its sub-fractions, the major isolated compounds and some of their semi-synthetic derivatives in order to study structure activity relationships. Using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2)-induced lipid peroxidation of hepatocyte membranes as a model, the hepatoprotective-guided phytochemical survey of the methanol extract of aerial parts of D. uncinatum was carried out by successive column chromatography. One of the most active compounds (Isovitexin) was chemically transformed to yield new semi-synthetic. The identification of isolated and semi-synthetic compounds was performed using NMR techniques, mass spectrometry and by comparison of their data with those reported in the literature. The n-butanol fraction was the most effective (IC 50 : 22.9 µg/mL) compared to the crude methanol extract (IC 50 : 43.6 µg/mL) and other fractions. The n-butanol sub-fractions FA (containing non-phenolic compounds) and FB (mainly containing phenolic compounds) exhibited respective IC 50 of 14.36 and 128.2 µg/ml.

Traditional medicinal uses and biological activities of species of the genus Desmodium: a literature review

“…Lipid peroxidation is considered the main molecular mechanism involved in the oxidative damage of cell structures and the pathogenicity and maintenance of hepatitis. C-glicosyl flavonoids and cerebrosides, isolated from D. uncinatum, showed a potent inhibitory activity in lipid peroxidation (Tsafack et al, 2018).…”

The complete chloroplast genome of Desmodium uncinatum (Fabaceae)

“…In addition, D. uncinatum is used to control some problematic weeds and enhance crop production (Midega et al 2017). Desmodium uncinatum is also widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of neurological imbalances (Tsafack et al 2018). The chloroplast is an important organelle that has its own genomes, and the chloroplast genome of plants has been a focus of research in plant molecular evolution and systematics (Clegg et al 1994).…”