Abstract:

Objective To explore the protective effect of active component of Eclipta on hepatic injury induced by Concanavalin A (ConA) in mice. Methods Mouse hepatic injury models were established by injection of ConA (15 mg/kg) via tail vein. The effect of Eclipta extracts on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and liver histology in both normal mice and hepatic injury mice was examined. A pure compound was obtained by means of bioactivity-guided isolation, and IR, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, ¹H-¹³C HMBC and ¹H-¹³C HMQC were used for structural identification. Results Eclipta extracts decreased serum ALT in hepatic injury mice induced by ConA, and demonstrated anti-apoptosis effect induced by ConA in hepatocytes. Wedelolactone, a coumarin, was isolated from Eclipta, and its structure was identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Wedelolactone inhibited ConA-induced T cell proliferation selectively, and completely antagonized the effect of ConA at the concentration of 10 μg/mL. Conclusion Eclipta herb has hepatoprotective effect. Wedelolactone, the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis active component of Eclipta, might serve as a lead compound for developing new antiinflammatory drugs.

Key words: Eclipta, Wedelolactone, Concanavalin A, liver protection, anti-inflammatory effect