The antioxidant and anti-hepatic fibrosis activities of acorns ( Quercus liaotungensis ) and their natural galloyl triterpenes

Abstract Acorn is an edible plant and it has also been used as traditional food. In our investigation of the antioxidant and anti-hepatic fibrosis constituents of acorns ( Quercus liaotungensis ), the novel galloyl triterpenes were discovered, their potential mechanisms were investigated by microscope observation, and western blot. Evaluation of their antioxidant and antiproliferation against t-HSC/Cl-6 cells indicated that acorn can be used as antioxidative and anti-hepatic fibrosis food, and the galloyl triterpenes may represent attractive ingredients. Furthermore, the novel galloyl triterpenes were rationally designed by incorporation of gallic acid into phyto-triterpenes through esterification, and obtained 9 compounds. With radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelating methods revealed their excellent antioxidant activities. Evaluation of anti-hepatic fibrosis activities indicated that galloyl triterpenes exhibited excellent inhibition activities than substrate. The galloyl triterpenes offers an intriguing solution for naturally derived antioxidants and liver protector, and maybe is invaluable for further development of anti-fibrosis drugs.