Ameliorative Effect of Some Medicinal Plants Against Experimentally Hyperuricemic Rats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate changes in expression of xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme during hyperuricemia and the ameliorating   effect of natural safe source as medicinal plants on the hyperuricemia in rats. For this purpose, 50 albino rats were categorized into 5 equal groups as follows: (GI) Control group, (GII) Potassium Oxonate (PO) Hyperuricemic group, (GIII) Febuxostat Hyperuricemic group,(GIV) Gingko biloba hyperuricemic group and (GV) Onion juice hyperuricemic group . At the end of 4 weeks, blood samples were collected and sera were separated and analyzed for determination of xanthine oxidase, ALT, AST, ALP activities and uric acid and total protein concentrations, liver and kidney specimens divided into 2 parts. Part for estimation of MDA, GSH, uric acid contents and SOD, GSH-Px activity and part (liver only) for studying xanthine oxidase gene expression. PO increased XO gene expression and enzyme activity it , uric acid, MDA, ALT,AST,and ALP., while it decreased GSH, SOD,GSH-Px and total proteins. Febuxostat decreased XO gene expression and enzyme activity, uric acid, MDA, GSH, GSH-Px and total proteins but it increased SOD, ALT, AST, and ALP. activities. Both Gingko biloba and onion juice showed a similar influence as Febuxostat but with lower degree in concerning XO gene expression and enzyme activity and uric acid, but they have more potent antioxidative effect than Febuxostat.