UHPLC-HRMS-MS analysis, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extracts from Ficus carica L., leaves and stem barks against acute CCl 4 -induced liver damage

Methanolic leaf (LME) and stem bark (SBME) extracts from Ficus carica L., were analysed using UHPLC-HRMS-MS analysis. Fifty-two compounds were identified belonging to flavonoids, phenolic acids and alkaloids. Their hepatoprotective activity was tested in a CCl4 rat model. In the CCl4-treated groups, the investigated extracts improved body weight (LME: 245.7 and SBME: 236.5 g) and relative liver weight (LME: 3.9 and SBME: 3.6 mg/g). They also reduced levels of aspartate aminotransferase (LME: 102.6 and SBME: 205.3.0 (UI/L), alanine aminotransferase (LME: 170.3 and SBME: 260.6 UI/L), lactate dehydrogenase (LME: 281.6 and SBME: 445.3 UI/L) and MDA (LME: 1.4 and SBME: 2.1 U/mg protein), while enhancing superoxide dismutase (LME: 65.1 and 46.2 U/mg protein) and catalase (LME: 11.0 and SBME: 8.3 U/mg protein) activities. These findings, together with histological examination, imply that the studied methanolic extracts protect the liver against steatosis, fibrosis and inflammation by increasing the antioxidative defense.