Pharmacological basis for use of Pistacia integerrima leaves in hyperuricemia and gout.
BACKGROUND
Pistacia integerrima Stew ex. Brandis is an important component of commonly dispensed traditional dosage forms. We wished to determine whether polyphenolic constituents of this plant could be useful in oxidative stress and have potential to counter hyperuricemia.


METHODS
Radical scavenging activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity assay in vitro. Fructose (FRS) induced hyperuricemic animal model was used to asses the serum uric acid (UA) lowering effect by plant products.


RESULTS
Ethyl acetate and n-BuOH fractions had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) was 6 and 7.6 microg/ml respectively. It was less than quercetin (IC(50) 0.95 microg/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC(50) 1.76 microg/ml). Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was comparable between n-BuOH and EtOAc (IC(50) 19 and 20 microg/ml) extracts but less than quercetin (IC(50) 0.65 microg/ml) and allopurinol (IC(50) 0.10 microg/ml). The antioxidant activity as well as the inhibitory activity towards the enzyme XO by quercetin-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-(6''-O-syringyl)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-(4''-O-galloyl)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (8), rutin (4) together with aglycons, quercetin (1), kaempferol (2) and apigenin (3) was promising to continue in vivo hypouricemic studies. Ethyl acetate extract had dose dependent UA lowering effect in hyperuricemic mice. This effect was comparable with quercetin but less than allopurinol.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are encouraging to plan clinical studies in hyperuricemic patients.
Ahmad
Naseem Saud
NS
College of Medical Sciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan. naseemsaud@yahoo.com
Farman
Muhammad
M
Najmi
Muzammil Hasan
MH
Mian
Kouser Bashir
KB
Hasan
Aurangzeb
A
D020001:1-Butanol; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006073:Gout / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010851:Picrates; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol; D020001:1-Butanol; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase