Comprehensive analysis of the compound profiles of Folium Camelliae Nitidissimae extract by ultrafast liquid chromatography with quadrupole–time-of-flight mass spectrometry and hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice

Folium Camelliae Nitidissimae (jinhuacha in Chinese, JHC) is a kind of caffeine-less tea with antioxidant, antitumor and antibacterial effects. Studies on the chemical profiles and hepatoprotective effects of JHC extracts have not been systematically conducted so far. This study comprehensively investigated the compound profiles of JHC extract by ultrafast liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. We also determined JHC's hepatoprotective effects against CCl₄-induced liver injury in mice. A JHC extract was administered orally to mice at 1.95 and 7.80 g/kg body weight once daily for 14 consecutive days prior to CCl₄ treatment. Eighty-four compounds including flavonoids, organic acids, catechins, coumarins, phenylpropanol, amino acids, anthraquinones, saponins and nucleosides in JHC extract were authentically identified or tentatively identified by comparing MS information and retention times with those of authentic standards or available references. JHC administration significantly decreased elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in mouse serum, inhibited hepatic malondialdehyde formation and enhanced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activities in the liver of CCl₄-treated mice. The histological observations also further supported the results. These results demonstrate that JHC contains various chemical compounds and its hepatoprotective effects against CCl₄-induced liver injury correlated with decreasing lipid oxidation are significant.