Phytochemical characterization and in vitro hepatoprotective effect of Egyptian Litchi sinensis Sonn. leaves against tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced hepatotoxicity

Younis, Inas Youssef; Hamed, Ahmed Ragab; Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Ibrahim; El Hawary, Seham Salah Eldin; Abdel Khalek, Marwa Refaat

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.354441.11410

Phytochemical characterization and in vitro hepatoprotective effect of Egyptian Litchi sinensis Sonn. leaves against tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced hepatotoxicity

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ pharmacognosy department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo university

² National research center

³ Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

⁴ Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University

⁵ Egyptian drug authority

10.21608/ejchem.2025.354441.11410

Abstract

Background: Litchi sinensis Sonn. is traditionally known as an efficient remedy for inflammation, liver, and skin diseases in Chinese medicine. Since most research has focused on the analysis of seeds and fruits. The current study aims to provide a quantitative metabolite profiling of the polyphenolic compounds of Litchi leaves and highlight their antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity, as no detailed metabolite characterization is reported for the cultivated Egyptian leaves.

Methods & Results: In our study, Cell-free screening of the antioxidant potential using DPPH method revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction was the most active among other fractions. Interestingly, a dose-dependent increment of Hepa1c1c7 cell viability was detected in cells pretreated with ethyl acetate fraction using the MTT method. However, the cytoprotecting activity was not accomplished through NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NQO1) induction. Therefore, the potential activity may be ascribed to the ‘direct’ antioxidant effect. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins were quantitatively measured in ethyl acetate fraction to yield 77.3±0.42, 11.4±0.12, and 46.5±0.33%, respectively. HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed the presence of protocatechuic acid (452.58±1.86 ug/g) as the major phenolic acid. Naringenin was identified for the first time in Litchi leaves, accounting for 2503.21±2.03 ug/g. Moreover, epicatechin gallate, catechin, and epigallocatechin gallate were the prominent identified proanthocyanidins monomers, accounting for 8050.8±13.6, 2385.75±1.56 & 2053.2±10.03 µg/g from the ethyl acetate fraction.

Conclusion: The results suggested that Litchi sinensis leaves phenolics exhibited a protective effect against tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced hepatotoxicity through the direct antioxidant effect, recommending their use as a promising candidate for the development of hepatoprotective drugs.

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