Planta Med 2009; 75(4): 302-306
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185300
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lonicera hypoglauca Inhibits Xanthine Oxidase and Reduces Serum Uric Acid in Mice

Shih-Chang Chien1 , Chen-Wei Yang2 , Yen-Hsueh Tseng2 , Hsin-Sheng Tsay3 , Yueh-Hsiung Kuo1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , Sheng-Yang Wang2
  • 1School of Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
  • 2Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
  • 3Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, Chaoyang University of Technology, Wufong, Taichung, Taiwan
  • 4Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 5Tsuzuki Institute for Traditional Medicine, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
  • 6Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 7Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Further Information

Publication History

received June 18, 2008 revised October 16, 2008

accepted Nov. 18, 2008

Publication Date:
30 January 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Xanthine oxidase (XOD) catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and then to uric acid, and is a key enzyme in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia. The ability of extracts of Lonicera hypoglauca (Caprifoliaceae) to inhibit XOD was investigated in this study. An ethanol extract (LH-crude) of the leaves of L. hypoglauca and its derived EtOAc soluble sub-fractions (LH‐EA) significantly inhibited XOD activity, with IC50 values for LH-crude and LH‐EA of 48.8 and 35.2 µg/mL. Moreover, LH‐EA reduced serum urate levels in vivo in a potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mouse model, by 70.1 % and 93.7 % of the hyperuricemic untreated group at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg of LH‐EA, respectively. Finally, we used bioactivity-guided fractionation to isolate a new bisflavonoid, loniceraflavone, which showed significant inhibition of XOD (IC50 = 0.85 µg/mL). These results suggest that L. hypoglauca and its extracts may have a considerable potential for development as an anti-hyperuricemia agent for clinical application.

References

Sheng-Yang Wang

Department of Forestry
National Chung-Hsing University

Taichung 402

Taiwan

Phone: + 88 64 22 84 03 45 ext. 138

Fax: + 88 64 22 87 36 28

Email: taiwanfir@dragon.nchu.edu.tw