HPLC investigation of carbohydrates and phenolic constituents of Livistona decipiens and Livistona australis leaves and assessment of their ulceroprotective activity

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare two Livistona species for their phenolic and carbohydrate contents and for their ulceroprotective activity. Methods: A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method within line connected diode array (DAD) and electro array (EA) used for detection of the polyphenolic contents. Also, HPLC with refractive index detection (HPLC-RI) was used to determine and quantify the sugars. Ulceroprotective activities of plant methanol extracts were evaluated by "acetic acid-induced colitis" method. Results: Both investigated Livistona species are rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids, showing a great similarity regarding their polyphenolic contents. The major flavonoid constituents in both species were; luteolin-6-C-arabinose-8-C-glucose, apigenin-6-C-glucose-8-C-rhamnose, hesperidin and acacetin. While the major phenolic acids constituents in both species were; pyrogallol and ellagic acids. However, there was a difference in the carbohydrate content between the two species, the main sugars in Livistona decipiens Becc were arabinose, mannose, sucrose, stachyose and glucose, while the main sugars in Livistona australis Mart were glucose, fructose, maltose, stachyose and galactose. Livistona australis Mart showed ulceroprotective activity in lower dose 500mg/kg when compared to Livistona decipiens Becc that only showed effectiveness at a doubled dose 1000 mg/kg. Conclusion: Both Livistona species have potential medicinal value being rich in polyphenolic and sugar contents and having ulceroprotective activity.