CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF Juncus subulatus

Seventeen compounds were identified by GC/MS in the volatile oil of the tubers of Juncus subulatus in which, bergamal, 2-methyl-4-heptanone and lauric acid were found as major compounds. Five 9,10-dihydrophenathrenes, luteolin, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of J. subulatus. Also, two flavonoid glycosides and quercetin were isolated from n-butanol extract of J. subulatus. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out using spectroscopic means. The volatile oil, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and total alcoholic extracts of J. subulatus were evaluated for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity in female rats against ethanol–induced hepatic injury. Serum Liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP), total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdhyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured colorimetrically. The results showed that all extracts of Juncus subulatus exhibited hepatoprotective activity in the following order: volatile oil extract > ethyl acetate extract > n-butanol extract > total alcoholic extract.