Phytochemical Analysis and Antihepatotoxic activity of Desmodium adscendens decoction against chemically-induced liver damage

Abstract

Desmodium adscendens is a herbaceous plant occurring in Africa and South America. A decoction from leaves and stems is used in traditional medicine for various indications including its hepatoprotective effect. In the present study the protective and curative effect of D. adscendens decoction against chemically-induced liver damage in rats has been evaluated. The phytochemical composition of the decoction was also investigated. The protective effects against D-galactosamine-induced and ethanol-induced liver damage of a decoction of D. adscendens, quantified on its main constituent D-pinitol, was investigated in rats. Enzyme levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which are among the usual biomarkers for liver damage, were determined in serum samples. In addition, the curative effect of pure D-pinitol and D. adscendens against chronic D-galactosamine-induced and acute acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was studied. Silymarin was used as positive control. The results showed that D. adscendens decoction had a protective effect in rats against liver damage induced by D-galactosamine and ethanol, and this effect was at least in part due to the presence of D-pinitol. However, no curative effect of the decoction or D-pinitol on liver damage induced by the tested chemicals could be demonstrated1. The phytochemical content of the decoction was further investigated using flash chromatography and LC-SPE-NMR. Apart from D-pinitol, it was found to be rich in flavonoids which were mainly vitexin and its derivatives such as vitexin-2''-xyloside and isovitexin. These results justify at least in part the antihepatotoxic use of D. adscendens decoctions.