Chemical Profile and Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Euphorbia paralias and Euphorbia geniculata (Euphorbiaceae) from Egypt

Background: Plants belonging to the genus Euphorbia were used traditionally to treat several health disorders and diseases. Objective: the aim of this study is evaluation of secondary metabolites and hepatoprotective activity of the ethyl acetate fractions of the aerial parts of Euphorbia paralias (Ep) and Euphorbia geniculata (Eg). Materials and Methods: UPLC-ESI-MS/ MS technique was used for identification of the secondary metabolites. The hepatoprotective potential of the two plants was evaluated for the first time in male rats with thioacetamide induced liver injury. Results: A total of 32 secondary metabolites were identified in the ethyl acetate fractions of the aerial parts of both species. Ellagitannins such as tetragalloyl hexoside, ellagic acid, gallic acid, and flavonoids such as kaempferol-3-O-β-(6''-galloyl-Oglucopyranoside), quercetin glycosides (glucoside and arabinoside) were found to be the major components in Ep whereas flavonoid glycosides including quercetin rutinoside, quercetin glycosides (glucoside, arabinoside and rhamnoside) and kaempeferol glycoside derivatives were highly abundant in Eg. Administration of thioacetamide resulted in marked elevation in liver enzymes, elevation of lipid profile and alteration in oxidative stress parameters. While pretreatment of rats with Ep and Eg ethyl acetate fractions significantly attenuated the hepatic toxicity through reduction of liver biomarkers, improving the redox status of the tissue and so brought down the serum biochemical parameters and lipid profile nearly toward the normal levels. Conclusion: The studied fractions show hepatoprotective potential with promising value as hepatoprotective drugs of natural origin in comparison with silymarin as the standard hepatoprotective drug.