molecules
Article
HPLC-PDA-MS/MS Characterization of Bioactive
Secondary Metabolites from Turraea fischeri Bark
Extract and Its Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective
Activities In Vivo
Mansour Sobeh 1, *, Mona F. Mahmoud 2 , Omar M. Sabry 3 , Rasha Adel 4 , Malak Dmirieh 1 ,
Assem M. El-Shazly 4 and Michael Wink 1, * ID
1
2
3
4
*
Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364,
Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Dmirieh@stud.uni-heidelberg.de
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University,
Zagazig 44519, Egypt; mona_pharmacology@yahoo.com
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt;
omar.sabry@pharma.cu.edu.eg
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
rashaadelelfeqy@gmail.com (R.A.); assemels2002@yahoo.co.uk (A.M.E.-S.)
Correspondence: sobeh@uni-heidelberg.de (M.S.); wink@uni-heidelberg.de (M.W.);
Tel.: +49-6221-54-4880 (M.W.); Fax: +49-6221-54-4884 (M.W.)
Received: 6 November 2017; Accepted: 27 November 2017; Published: 29 November 2017
Abstract: Turraea fischeri is an East African traditional herb, which is widely used in traditional
medicine. In this study, we profiled the secondary metabolites in the methanol extract of T. fischeri
bark using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS, and 20 compounds were tentatively identified. Several isomers
of the flavonolignan cinchonain-I and bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin hexosides
dominated the extract. Robust in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties were observed in 1,1-diphenyl2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)
assay, and in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, the extract exhibited promising
hepatoprotective activities in D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) treated rats. A significant reduction in
the elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase
(GGT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathione (GSH) was observed in rats
treated with the bark extract in addition to D-galactosamine when compared with rats treated with
D-galactosamine alone. In conclusion, T. fischeri is apromising candidate for health-promoting and for
pharmaceutical applications.
Keywords: Turraea fischeri; flavonolignan; cinchonains; HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS; antioxidant; hepatoprotection
1. Introduction
Although oxygen metabolism is a central key to life, it is also associated with reactive oxygen
species (ROS) production; this phenomenon is known as the “Oxygen Paradox”. A large number of
diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson, and Alzheimer disease,
are apparently linked to ROS. Also, ageing and several age-related degenerative diseases involve
inflammation and deleterious tissue damage from oxidative components. This also applies to liver
cirrhosis [1].
In the body, some endogenous antioxidant enzymes are able to cope with ROS, and thus can limit
the damage of ROS. However, in many diseases, among them liver injury, the antioxidant abilities
Molecules 2017, 22, 2089; doi:10.3390/molecules22122089
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Molecules 2017, 22, 2089
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are diminished or severely compromised. In the case of excessive amounts of ROS, other protective
mechanisms, such as external antioxidants, could be of a great value [2,3].
The genus Turraea L. of the Meliaceae family comprises more than 70 species in Africa, Madagascar,
Socotra, and tropical Asia; Turraea plants grow as trees or shrubs [4]. The genus is rich in secondary
metabolites, such as limonoids, sterols, and flavonoids [5]. Several species from the genus were
systematically investigated for their potential as antimalarial agents, among them, T. vogelii, T. robusta,
T. nilotica, T. floribunda, and T. fischeri [6–8]. Also, some African Turraea species are traditionally used as
an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of wounds, abscesses, asthma, and against bilharzias [9].
Turraea fischeri Gürke is an East African traditional herb and is widely used in folk medicine against
stomachache and for fertility properties [10]. However, neither phytochemical studies nor biological
investigations have been carried out for this plant. Therefore, this work describes for the first time
the chemical constituents of a methanol extract of Turraea fischeri bark using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS.
The in vivo hepatoprotection against D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) in toxication in rats and antioxidant
properties in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is a widely used model system in this
context [11,12], were evaluated.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Phytochemicals in T. fischeri Bark
HPLC-PDA-MS/MS was applied to profile the secondary metabolites of a methanol extract
from T. fischeri bark, and 20 compounds were tentatively identified (Figures 1 and 2, and Table 1).
Flavonolignans and bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin isomers dominated the extract.
Figure 1. Cont.
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Figure 1. (a) HPLC-ESI (−−)-MS/MS profile of a methanol extract of T. fischeri bark; (b) A sample spectra
(UV) of compounds (3–20) at 280 nm.
Table 1. Tentative identification of secondary metabolites of a methanol extract of T. fischeri bark using
HPLC-PDA-MS/MS in the negative ion mode.
−
−
No.
tR
[M − H]−
MS/MS Fragments
Tentatively Identified Compounds
2
1
15
8
9
10
6
7
11
12
13
17
16
20
5
2.00
1.65
33.41
25.24
26.27
27.69
22.39
23.00
27.18
28.27
30.11
36.1
34.76
47.74
12.24
353
447
451
613
613
613
759
759
759
759
759
759
775
775
793
179, 191
315, 153
299, 341
299, 341, 451, 595
299, 341, 451, 595
299, 341, 451, 595
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
299, 323, 433, 451, 613, 649
305, 393, 461, 503, 613, 665
305, 393, 461, 503, 613, 665
341, 299, 451, 503, 613, 639
Chlorogenic acid
Protocatechuic acid pentosyl-hexoside
Cinchonain-I *
Cinchonain-I hexoside *
Cinchonain-I hexoside *
Cinchonain-I hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside *
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin hexoside **
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin hexoside **
Cinchonain-I syringyl-hexoside *
14
31.45
921
305, 461, 485, 595, 613, 811
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
rhamnosyl-hexoside **
18
38.77
921
305, 461, 485, 595, 613, 811
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
rhamnosyl-hexoside **
19
44.64
921
305, 461, 485, 595, 613, 811
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
rhamnosyl-hexoside **
3
8.54
939
289, 613, 759
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
syringyl-rhamnoside **
4
9.72
939
289, 433, 613, 759
Bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
syringyl-rhamnoside **
* indicates that the stereochemistry of the compounds is not resolved; this compound could be cinchonain-Ia, Ib, Ic,
or Id. ** indicates that the stereochemistry of the compounds is not resolved. The compounds are arranged based
on their molecular weights. Compounds are numbered in accordance to Figure 1.
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Figure 2. Tentative structures of some compounds from Table 1.
−
−
−
For instance, peak (15) at a retention time 33.41 min, exhibited a molecular ion peak [M −−H]−
(m/z) at 451 and two daughter ions at m/z 341 and 299; it was assigned to cinchonain-I, as previously
− −
described [13] (Figure 3a). Three peaks (8, 9, and 10) at retention times 25.24, 26.27, and 27.69,
−
respectively, showed [M −− H]− (m/z) at 613 and three fragment ions at 299, 341, and 451; they were
identified as cinchonain-I-hexoside isomers (Figure 3b).
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Figure 3. (a) MS/MS fragmentation of cinchonain-I at [M −−H]−− (m/z) at 451; (b) MS/MS fragments of
cinchonain-I hexoside at [M −− H]−− (m/z) at 613; (c) MS/MS spectra of cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside
− −
− H]−− m/z 759.
at [M −
Also, six further compounds (6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 17) displayed similar molecular ion peaks
− −− H]− (m/z) 759. In MS/MS analyses, they produced fragment ions as 649 (M–H–110),
at [M
613 (M–H–146, rhamnose moiety), and 451 (M–H–146–162, rhamnose and hexose moieties); they were
characterized as cinchonain-I rhamnosyl-hexoside isomers (Table 1, Figure 3c). Additionally, a minor
−
compound (5) at a retention time 12.24− min had [M − H]− m/z 793 and in MS2 demonstrated daughter
ions at m/z 613 (M–H–180, syringyl moiety) and 451 (M–H–180–162, syringyl and hexoside moieties);
it was tentatively identified as cinchonain-I syringyl-hexoside (Table 1 and Figure 4).
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−
Figure 4. MS/MS spectra of cinchonain-I syringyl-hexoside at [M −−−H]−− m/z 793.
− −−
Two peaks at 34.76 and 47.74 min (compounds 16 and 20) with a molecular ion of [M −−H]− at
m/z 775 were detected. In MS2 , they produced a major ion peak at m/z 613 [M–H–162, loss of a hexose
moiety]. In MS3 of 613, two daughter ions at m/z 503 and 461 were observed; thus, they were identified
as bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin hexoside isomers, as reported before [13]
(Figures 5a,b and 6).
Figure 5.
Negative ion ESI-MS/MS spectra of bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted
catechin–hexoside; (a) MS2 of [M −
H]−− m/z 775; (b) MS3 of main daughter ion at m/z 613.
−− −
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Figure 6. A proposed fragmentation pattern of bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
−
hexoside at [M −− H]− m/z 775.
−
−
In the extract, three compounds (14, 18, and 19) had similar [M − H]− at m/z 921, as well as
similar fragmentation pattern. In MS2 , they produced a major daughter ion at m/z 811 due to the
loss of dihydroxyphenyl group. Also, the two ions at m/z 775 and 613 were produced due to the
losses of 146 and 162, respectively. Therefore, these three precursors were tentatively assigned to
bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin rhamnosyl–hexoside isomers. Their retention
times are documented in Table 1 and a representative mass spectrum
− presented in Figure 7. Other two
− is
−
minor peaks (3 and 4) produced a molecular ion peak at [M − H] m/z 939 and fragment ions at 759
and 613; they were tentatively characterized as bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
syringyl-rhamnoside isomers (Table 1).
2.2. Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities
In initial analyses, we determined the total phenolic content of a bark extract using the
Folin-Ciocalteu method. The extract contained 488 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract. Next,
we assessed the in vitro antioxidant properties of this extract by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
radical scavenging assay) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay. A pronounced
antioxidant activity was detected in both of the assays in comparison to the potent antioxidant
compound ascorbic acid (Table 2). Comparable antioxidant properties were reported in Trichilia catigua
and Parabarium huaitingii [14,15].
Table 2. Antioxidant properties of a methanol extract from T. fischeri bark.
Sample
Bark Extract
AscorbicAcid
DPPH (EC50 , µg/mL)
FRAP (mM FeSO4 /mg extract)
5.12
18.32
3.31
22
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Figure 7. Negative ion ESI-MS/MS spectra of bis-dihydroxyphenylpropanoid-substituted catechin
−
rhamnosyl-hexoside at [M −−H]− m/z 921.
In the next step, we investigated whether these in vitro antioxidant activities would induce
protective effects in vivo in C. elegans. We initially studied the survival rate of the wild type N2 worms
that were treated with the toxic and pro-oxidant juglone (80 µM) to generate oxidative stress that is
lethal within 24 h. The pre-treatment of the worms with the extract resulted in an increased survival
rate in a dose dependent manner (Figure 8a).
Given these initial findings, we went further to assess the abilities of the extract to diminish ROS
production or at least scavenge it. Thus, the intracellular ROS level was quantified in N2 worms against
elevated ROS levels. The extract reduced the ROS level in a concentration dependent pattern (Figure 8b).
Prolonged exposure to extreme stress conditions can harm cells, damage proteins, and thus result
in cell and tissue death. Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) can be detected in all of the studied organisms,
and they are increasingly expressed in the stressed cells to protect and/or repair such damage by
preventing protein aggregation and misfolding, and to maintain homeostasis [16]. To explain the
possible mechanism of the observed in vivo antioxidant activities of the extract, we incubated the
transgenic strains TJ375 with 20 µM juglone for 24 h to induce oxidative stress, and then we measured
the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in Phsp-16.2::GFP in the pharynx. The extract
significantly reduced HSP-16.2 expression in a dose-dependent fashion (Figure 8c).
To further elucidate the mechanisms by which the extract exerts its antioxidant activities,
we assessed its effects on the localization of the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16. The translocation
of DAF-16 from the cytosol into the nucleus is a primary prerequisite for its ability to promote
the expression of several defense enzymes, among them, superoxide dismutase and heat-shock
proteins [17]. Apparently, the extract increased nuclear localization of DAF-16::GFP in daf-16-jfp
reporter strain (transgenic strain TJ356), indicating a reduced DAF-16 phosphorylation status after
extract treatment in a dose-dependent pattern (Figure 8d). This suggests that the in vivo antioxidant
activities of T. fischeri extract might be mediated by the DAF-16/FOXO pathway. In conclusion,
the polyphenolics in the bark extract are bioavailable and are partly taken up by C. elegans. The results
agree with those of earlier experiments in our laboratory [18–21].
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In light of these in vitro and in vivo findings, we investigated the hepatoprotective potential
of the bark extract against the severe effects of liver intoxication in the well established rat model
after injection of D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) [22]. We first investigated the biochemical changes in
the liver enzymes after 24 h of D-GalN injection. A significant elevation in liver enzyme activities
(aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) and total bilirubin were observed
in D-GalN-rats. Pretreatment of the rats with 200 mg/kg extract and silymarin attenuated the increase
in ALT and AST activities, and total bilirubin (p < 0.05, Figure 8). However, pretreatment with
100 mg/kg b.w. extract significantly decreased AST and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels
when compared with D-GalN (p < 0.05), but did not affect ALT and total bilirubin when compared
with D-GalN (p > 0.05, Figure 9).
Figure 8. (a) Influence of T. fischeri extract on the survival rate in N2 worms against the deleterious
effects of juglone (80 µM). The extract improved the survival rate to 49.39%, 57.73% and 58.54% at
concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL, respectively, when compared to the juglone-alone control
(21.49%), (mean ± SEM, n = 3); (b) Influence on intracellular ROS accumulation in N2 nematodes
evidenced by H2DCF-DA dye. A significant reduction was observed in ROS levels by 44.96%, 50.44%
and 58.32% when the worms were treated with 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL extract, respectively; the control
was set 100%. ROS levels were measured by fluorescence microscopy. Data are expressed as relative
fluorescent intensity compared to control group (mean ± SEM, n = 3); (c) Influence of the extract on
Phsp-16.2::GFP expression in mutant strains TJ375. Phsp-16.2::GFP levels were significantly decreased
by 51.49%, 72.73%, 86.36% after pre-treatment of the nematodes with 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL extract
followed by 20 µM juglone; (d) Influence of the extract on the localisation of the transcription factor
DAF-16 in mutant TJ356 strains. The extract induced nuclear localization to 46.67%, 56.67%, and 71.67%
at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL extract, respectively. DAF-16::GFP localization was
determined using fluorescence microscopy. The worms were assigned into three groups: cytosolic,
intermediate, and nuclear according to their phenotype. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 related to control
was analysed by one-way ANOVA. Interestingly, the extract showed comparable activities with the
reference compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in all assays.
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Figure 9. Influence of a single oral dose of D-galactosamine—induced liver injury (800 mg/kg) and
oral administration of two doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w.) of T. fischeri extract and the
positive control silymarin (100 mg/kg) on serum enzyme activities (A) alanine aminotransferase (ALT);
(B) aspartate aminotransferase (AST); (C) gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT); (D) Total bilirubin level.
Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. * Significant difference compared to normal control group;
@ Significant difference compared to D-GalN treated group at p < 0.05. n = 6; by One Way ANOVA and
Tukey post hoc test.
Furthermore, we studied the influence of T. fischeri extract on oxidative stress markers. D-GalN
injection increased the generation of ROS and reduced the level of endogenous antioxidants.
This resulted in an increased oxidative stress, as revealed by elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA),
a marker of lipid peroxidation and depletion of glutathione (GSH) (p < 0.05, Figure 10). Oral
administration of T. fischeri extract in doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w. and silymarin revealed
potent antioxidant effect. It diminished the elevated MDA content and increased endogenous GSH
when compared to D-GalN alone (p < 0.05, Figure 10). The effect of the extract in either dose levels
was similar to silymarin on MDA but the latter exerted a stronger effect on GSH.
Apparently, the studied extract exerted pronounced hepatoprotective activities, as evidenced
by the biochemical activities of the liver enzymes and the ROS markers GSH and MDA. Additional
evidence was found when the histopathological changes were investigated. D-GalN caused focal
hepatic necrosis and hepatic inflammation as revealed by mononuclear cell infiltration (Figure 11B).
Furthermore, acute cell swelling and intense microsteatosis were also observed in the hepatic cells.
Single or multiple hepatic cells showed apoptosis. Moreover, vasculitis and endotheliosis affected
some portal areas. The majority of portal areas showed intense portal fibrosis and inflammation,
as revealed by mononuclear cells infiltration and contain proliferative bile ductules. In T. fischeri
(100 mg extract/kg) treated group, moderate microscopic changes represented by diffuse acute
cells welling and mild portal fibrosis were encountered (Figure 11C). The portal vasculatures were
dilated and showed lymphocytosis and scattered minute microsteatosis in individualized hepatic
cells. The remaining hepatic parenchyma was apparently normal. Pretreatment with 200 mg/kg
of the extract exerted a better improvement in the structural changes of the liver where only portal
Molecules 2017, 22, 2089
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inflammation was observed (Figure 11D). The effect of the known liver protectant silymarin was
similar to the 200 mg/kg dose of the extract (Figure 11E).
Figure 10. Influence of a single oral dose of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury (800 mg/kg) and
oral administration of two doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w.) of T. fischeri extract and the
positive control silymarin (100 mg/kg) on (A) Reduced glutathione content (GSH, mg/g liver tissue);
(B) Malondialdehyde content (MDA, nmol/g liver tissue). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM.
* Significant difference compared to normal control group; @ Significant difference when compared
to D-GalN treated group at p < 0.05; # significant difference compared to silymarin treated group at
p < 0.05, n = 6; by One Way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test.
Figure 11. Representative photomicrographs of cross sections from six rat livers (staining with
hematoxylin and eosin, 400×); (A) Liver of healthy rats with normal hepatocytes arranged in
hepatic cords radiating from the central vein with normal portal area, central vein and normal ducts;
(B) Liver of D-galactosamine treated rats showing focal hepatic necrosis infiltrated by mononuclear
cells (arrow head) with microsteatosis of the adjacent hepatocytes (arrows); (C) Liver of extract
(100 mg/kg) treated rats with minute fibrous strands in portal area and interlobular tissue with
reversible degenerative changes mainly vacuolar degeneration in the hepatic cells (arrows); (D) Liver
of extract (200 mg/kg) treated rats showing portal inflammation (arrows) but no steatosisornecrosis;
and, (E) Liver of silymarin extract (100 mg/kg) treated rats showing partial improvement but some
monocellular infiltration.
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To sum up, pronounced antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects were observed in different
experimental models in vitro and in vivo in C. elegans and in rats. These results are in agreement with
those reported for extracts containing cinchonains and phenylpropanoid-substituted cinchonains from
Trichilia catigua and Parabarium huaitingii [14,15].
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Plant Material and Extraction
The bark of Turraea fischeri was collected from Lupaga Site in Shinyanga, Tanzania. A sample
is stored at IPMB, Heidelberg University under the accession number P7335. The dried and ground
stembark (100 g) was defatted with n-hexane and then extracted with methanol (100%) at ambient
temperature (3 × 500 mL). The filtrates were combined and evaporated under vacuum at 40 ◦ C until
dryness. The obtained residue was lyophilized yielding fine dried powder (21 g).
3.2. HPLC-PDA-MS/MS
The LC system was Thermo Finnigan (Thermo Electron Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA).
The reversed-phase column (Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18, rapid resolution, 4.6 × 150 mm, 3.5 µm,
Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA) was used. The mobile phase was water and acetonitrile (ACN)
(0.1% formic acid each) and gradient was employed from 5 % to 30% CAN in 60 min with flow rate
1 mL/min with a 1:1 split before the ESI source. Autosampler surveyor ThermoQuest (Thermo Electron
Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA) was used to inject the sample; the process was controlled by Xcalibur
software (XcaliburTM 2.0.7, Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) [23]. LCQ-Duo ion trap mass
spectrometer (ThermoQuest Corporation, Austin, TX, USA) with an ESI source (ThermoQuest) was
used and operated in the negative mode as described before [22]. Full scan mode with a mass range of
50–2000 m/z was employed to detect the ions.
3.3. Antioxidant Activities
In vitro antioxidant properties were determined according to DPPH radical scavenging activity
and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, as well as total phenolic content; they were
done as reported before [24]. In vivo antioxidant potential was determined in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The C. elegans strains [Wild type (N2), TJ375 [hsp-16.2::GFP (gpls1)] and TJ356] were obtained from
the Caenorhabditis Genetic Center (CGC). The worms were maintained at 20 ◦ C on nematode growth
medium (NGM), and fed with living E. coli OP50. The cultures were synchronized by treating gravid
adults with sodium hypochlorite. In M9 buffer, the eggs were hatched and obtained larvae were moved
into S-media seeded with living E. coli OP50 (D.O600 = 1.0). For in vivo assays, in the survival rate,
initially, the worms (N2) were incubated with three different concentrations (25, 50, 100 µg) for 48 h,
and then juglone (80 µM) was added for another 24 h. The worms then were counted and the results
were expressed as a mean of a percentage of live nematodes. Again, to determine the intracellular ROS
concentration, the worms were incubated with three different concentrations of the extract for 48 h.
The worms were then incubated in M9 buffer contained 20 µM H2DCF-DA at 20 ◦ C for 1 h. Using
fluorescence microscope (Keyence, BZ-9000, Osaka, Japan), the intracellular ROS concentration was
measured using fluorescence intensity and then quantified by ImageJ 1.48 software (National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Quantification of Phsp-16.2::GFP expression was studied in TJ375
strains while subcellular DAF-16::GFP localization was studied in the transgenic strain TJ356. All of
the analyses were carried out according to our protocols described in more details [11,12,25].
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3.4. Hepatoprotective Experiments
3.4.1. Animals
Thirty healthy male Wistar rats weighing 180–200 g were utilized in this study and were obtained
from the animal house of the Faculty of Veterinary medicine, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Egypt.
The animals were kept in clean polypropylene cages under standard conditions (temperature: 25 ◦ C;
12/12 h light dark cycle; relative humidity: about 50%). A seven-day acclimatization period was
allowed before the experiment and the rats were allowed free access to food and tap water. All of the
treatments were in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of National
Academy of Sciences, USA (2011) [26]. Approval (number P5-6-2016) was granted by the Animal
Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University prior to commencement of the study.
Rats were randomly assigned into five experimental groups. Each group contained equal numbers
of male rats (i.e., n = 6). Group (A) represents control group and was given a 1 mL single oral dose of
vehicle, while group (B) received 800 mg/kg D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) dissolved in normal saline by
intraperitoneal injection. Group (C) received a single oral dose of T. fischeri extract (100 mg/kg b.w.).
Group (D) received single oral dose (200 mg/kg b.w.) of T. fischeri extract. Group (E) represents
a positive control, which received a single oral dose of silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w.), a known liver
protecting natural product. One hour later, the animals of groups (C, D, and E) received 800 mg/kg
D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) dissolved in normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. The extract and
silymarin were suspended in gum acacia (10 mg/mL saline w/v).
3.4.2. Blood and Tissue Sampling
24 h after D-GalN injection, rats were euthanized following anesthesia using diethylether
(Fisher Scientific UK Ltd., Loughborough, UK) and 3 mL of venous blood were collected from each
animal from the retro-orbital plexus in a plain tube. All of the blood samples were centrifuged (3000× g,
4 ◦ C, and 15 min) and the serum was separated and used to measure the levels of liver enzymes alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT),
and total bilirubin.
For histopathology and oxidative stress measurement, a liver specimen of 1 cm length × 0.5 cm
width × 0.5 µm thicknesses was excised from each liver and washed off with cold saline. It was
divided into two parts. One part was immediately flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and kept at −80 ◦ C
for measurements of oxidative stress parameters, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation product,
and malondialdehyde (GSH and MDA, respectively). The other part was processed embedded in
paraffin and used for histopathological examination.
3.4.3. Biochemical Determinations
The serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, and total bilirubin in the rats were measured using a
colorimetric kit according to the instructions of the company (Diamond Co., Cairo, Egypt and
Spectrum Co., Cairo, Egypt). One gram liver tissues were homogenized. Then lipid peroxidation
product, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were measured in tissue
homogenate photometrically (spectrophotometer, Jenway®, Stone, UK) according to Ohkawa et al. [27]
and Beutler et al. [28], respectively.
3.4.4. Histology Studies
Serial sections of 4–5 µm thickness were cut from each tissue block, mounted on slides, and kept
at room temperature. Then they were dewaxed in xylene, hydrated using graded ethanol, and stained
with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) to assess hepatic architecture and
structural changes. All of the sections were examined with an EVOS XL core microscope (Thermo Fisher
Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) at ×100 and ×400 magnifications. The sections were photographed
with a digital camera (Canon, Tokyo, Japan).
Molecules 2017, 22, 2089
13 of 14
3.5. Statistical Analysis
The values are presented as the means ± SEM. Significant differences between all of the groups
were assessed by one-way analysis of variance using the Tukey post hoc-test test and unpaired
t test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. A computer-based curve fitting program
(GraphPad Prism 5, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA) was used to perform statistical analysis.
4. Conclusions
In this study, we characterized the phytoconstituents of a methanol bark extract of T. fischeri. Altogether,
20 compounds were tentatively identified belonging to cinchonains and phenylpropanoid-substituted
catechin. T. fischeri extract demonstrated substantial antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. T. fischeri
could be further studied to isolate its biologically-active phytoconstituents and to study their mechanism
of action in more detail as this plant shows promising liver-protecting activities.
Acknowledgments: We acknowledge financial support by DeutscheForschungsgemeinschaft and Ruprecht-KarlsUniversität Heidelberg within the funding program Open Access Publishing.
Author Contributions: M.S. performed the extraction, chemical characterization of the extract, the antioxidant
activities in vitro, analyzed the data, wrote the paper, conceived and designed the project. M.F.M. designed and
performed the hepatoprotective experiments and wrote the paper. O.M.S. and R.A. participated in the chemical
characterization of the extract. M.D. performed the antioxidant activities in vivo, A.M.E.-S. analyzed the data and
revised the paper and M.W. revised the paper, conceived and designed the project.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of plant materials are available from the authors.
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