Hepatoprotective effects of Ficus pandurata Hance root extract and its active isoflavone against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury.

The ethanolic extract of Ficus pandurata Hance (EFP) significantly alleviates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice by attenuating hepatic oxidative stress and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In this study, we isolated and identified twenty-one known compounds, including four benzofuran derivatives (1 - 4), one benzopyran derivative (5), three coumarins (6 - 8), four triterpenoids (9 - 12), and nine other compounds (13 - 21). Notably, compound 6 represents the first isolation of this compound from the genus Ficus. All isolated compounds were assessed for hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced ALI in alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells. Among them, isoflavone 16 exhibited the most pronounced protective effect, maintaining cell viability above 80%. Mechanistic studies further revealed that it effectively reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, suggesting that isoflavone 16 is a key contributor to the hepatoprotective effects of EFP.