Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Ajuga nipponensis extract by ultrasonic-assisted extraction.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate suitable condition for extraction of the active components from Ajuga nipponensis (A. nipponensis).


METHODS
Orthogonal experimental design was used to determine the optimal extraction parameters for ecdysterones and flavonoids. Finally, the hepatoprotective abilities of A. nipponensis extracts were evaluated by CCl4-induced animal models.


RESULTS
Maximum yields of flavonoids (7.87 ± 0.10) mg/g and ecdysterones (0.73 ± 0.02) mg/g could be obtained when the extraction time was 50 min, the extraction temperature was 60 °C, and the ratio of sample to 70% (v/v) ethanol was 1:20 (w/w). The antioxidant property of A. nipponensis was correlated to the concentration of its extracts. At 5 mg/mL, A. nipponensis extract scavenged 84.8% of DPPH radical and had absorbance values of 2.43 ± 0.04 reducing power. Upon CCl4-induced liver injury, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase decreased significantly after the mice were treated with A. nipponensis. Histological researches also explained that A. nipponensis reduced the extent of liver lesions induced by CCl4.


CONCLUSIONS
A. nipponensis exhibited potent antioxidant activity in chemical experimental models and hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver damage.
Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC; Biotechnology Research Center, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
Chang-Wei
CW
Hsieh
Department of Bioindustry Technology, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
Wen-Ching
WC
Ko
Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
Wai-Jane
WJ
Ho
Biotechnology Research Center, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
Chao-Kai
CK
Chang
Department of Bioindustry Technology, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
Guo-Jhou
GJ
Chen
Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, 168 University Rd, Dacun, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: jenchieh@mail.dyu.edu.tw.
Jen-Chieh
JC
Tsai
Ajuga nipponensis; Antioxidant; Hepatoprotection; Orthogonal test; Ultrasonic-assisted extraction