• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1995

'Gyejakjimo-Tang(桂芍知母湯)', which is composed of Cinnamon bark(桂枝), Peony root(芍藥), Anemarrhena root(知母) and other seven herbs, is described as antipyretic, diuretic and analgesic prescription in traditional medical literatures including Geumgwe-Yoryak(金櫃要略). So it is being used in the treatment of gout clinically in oriental region. As the results of the pharmacological and biochemical trials of the prescription, it was found to have antiinflammatory and significant analgesic effects indicated by carrageenin edema, dye permeabilities and writhing behavior. And it potentiated the output of uric acid in blood and the increase of uric acid in urine of alcohol-toxicated rats, which mean the decrease of uric acid level only by excretion procedure. But the prescription didn't show any effects on the activities of adenine/guanine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, xanthine oxidase or uricase, which are related with formation and metabolism of uric acid.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a traditional Korean medicine composed of three herbs, Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, and Liriope platyphylla. SMS is used to treat respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. However, whether SMS exerts antihyperuricemic effects is unknown. Methods: Effects of the SMS extract in water (SMS-W) and 30% ethanol (SMS-E) were studied in a rat model of potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Uric acid concentrations and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities were evaluated in the serum, urine, and hepatic tissue. Using renal histopathology to assess kidney function and uric acid excretion, we investigated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, as well as protein levels of renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1). The effects of SMS on in vitro XO activity and uric acid uptake were also evaluated. The components of SMS were identified using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Results: SMS-E reduced serum uric acid and creatinine concentrations, and elevated urine uric acid excretion. SMS-E lowered XO activities in both the serum and liver, and downregulated the expression of renal URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins. SMS-E reduced renal inflammation and IL-1b levels in both the serum and kidneys. SMS-E inhibited both in vitro XO activity and urate uptake in URAT1-expressing oocytes. Using UPLC, 25 ginsenosides were identified, all of which were present in higher levels in SMS-E than in SMS-W. Conclusion: SMS-E exhibited antihyperuricemic effects by regulating XO activity and renal urate transporters, providing the first evidence of its applicability in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2014

To evaluate the inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde oxidase (AO), and antihyperuricemic effect by Aspergillus oryzae fermented Smilax china L. leaf extracts and fractions, we observed extracted yield by each solvent, the content of total polyphenol and total flavonoid (TF), the activities of XO and AO, and serum uric acid level. Extracted yield (g/kg) by 80% ethanol (EtOH) was 13.56, those of n-hexane, dichloromethane (DICM), ethylacetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol fraction (BuOH) were 1.35-3.33. Furthermore, total polyphenol content (mg/g-extract) of EtOAc fraction, BuOH fraction, DICM fraction and EtOH fraction is 478.07-501.26, 259.49-289.02, 165.03-232.27, 134.02-196.54, respectively. Those of fermented EtOAc and DICM fraction was 4.85 and 40.74% higher than that of non-fermented fraction, respectively, while the other fermented fractions were lower than those of non-fermented fractions. And total flavonoid content (mg/g-extract) of EtOAc fraction was higher than those of other fractions. Additionally, TF of fermented EtOAc and BuOH fraction is 10.56 and 60.17% higher, than that of fermented fraction, respectively, although those of the other fermented fractions was lower than that of non-fermented fractions. On the other hand, XO inhibitory activities of all fermented fractions was significantly higher than that of all non-fermented fraction, while those of fermented EtOAc (75.02%) and BuOH fraction (65.59%) was markedly higher than that of non-fermented fraction (39.42 and 5.34%), respectively. In addition, AO inhibitory activities of DICM and EtOAc fraction was 81.82 and 77.93% higher, respectively, than those of the other fractions, and those of fermented fractions as with XO were significantly higher than that of non-fermented fractions. Meanwhile, serum uric acid level (SU) of hyperuricemic control mice (HC, 6.98 mg/dL) was 1.83 folds higher than that of normal control (NC, 3.82 mg/dL). Furthermore, SU in the group treated with EtOAc fraction decreased in a dose dependent manner compared with the allopurinol control group, although those of fermented fractions were significantly lower than those of non-fermented fractions. This study suggests that fermented Smilax china L. leaf extracts may regulate the XO and AO inhibitory activities and antihyperuricemic effect due to aglycone components from glycoside form flavonoids by fermentation of A. oryzae.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.371-387
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• 2019

Although the dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Umbelliferae) is a popular medicinal plant in East Asia, there has been no systemic toxicological evaluation of a water extract of Saposhnikoviae Radix (SRE). In this experiment, an oral acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations of SRE (500-5,000 mg/kg body weight) were performed in both sexes of Crl:CD(SD) rats. Based on the results from mortality, clinical signs, effects on body weight and organ weight, clinical biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and histopathology, significant acute, 4-week repeated dose range finding (DRF) and 13-week subchronic toxicity of SRE was not observed in either sex of rats; thus, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 5,000 mg (kg/day). To identify anti-hyperuricemia potential of SRE, the suppressive effect of SRE was determined in mice challenged with potassium oxonate (PO; 250 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection for 8 days (each group; n = 7). SRE supplementation suppressed the uric acid level in urine through significant xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. Kidney dysfunctions were observed in PO-challenged mice as evidenced by an increase in serum creatinine level. Whereas, SRE supplementation suppressed it in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, SRE was safe up to 5,000 mg (kg/day) based on NOAEL found from acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations. SRE had anti-hyperuricemia effect and lowered the excessive level of uric acid, a potential factor for gout and kidney failure.