Smilax riparia reduces hyperuricemia in mice as a potential treatment of gout.
The roots and rhizomes of Smilax riparia, called "Niu-Wei-Cai" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are believed to be effective in treating gout symptoms. However, it is not clear if the uricosuric mechanisms of S. riparia support its therapeutic activities. In this study, we examined the efficacy of S. riparia in reducing serum uric acid levels in a potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia mouse model. We observed that the total saponins of S. riparia could down-regulate renal mURAT1, resulting in the enhancement of urate excretion in the kidney of hyperuricemic mice. These results suggest that S. riparia could be an active anti-gout herbal medicine, which would contribute to the enhancement of uric acid excretion in the kidney.
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA , Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Xiao-Hui
XH
Wu
Chun-Hao
CH
Yu
Chun-Feng
CF
Zhang
Samantha
S
Anderson
Yan-Wen
YW
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006073:Gout / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010094:Oxonic Acid; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots; D027343:Rhizome; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032281:Smilax; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D012503:Saponins; C109687:Slc22a12 protein, mouse; D014527:Uric Acid; C489337:potassium oxonate; D010094:Oxonic Acid