Hypouricaemic and anti-inflammatory effect of ethanol extract from balanophora fungosa subsp. Indica (arn.) b. hansen

Abstract

The parasitic plant Balanophora fungosa subsp. indica (Arn.) B. Hansen (family Balanophoraceae) had been used in Vietnamese folk medicine for a long time. This study aimed to investigate the hypouricaemic and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract of B. fungosa subsp. indica (Arn.) B. Hansen (EBF) by potassium oxonate model in mice, carrageenan and monosodium urate models in rats, respectively. The total polyphenol content of EBF was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analyses of the extract were also carried out.. Results showed that EBF possessed 250.23 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g of total polyphenol content. Gallic acid, caffeic acid and cinnamic and some lignans were identified in the extract by HPLC and HPTLC analyses. The extract decreased 28.32% of serum uric acid level in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricaemic rats at the dose of 900 mg/kg. The extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg and 350 mg/kg reduced acute inflammation in the carrageenan-induced paw edema and significantly reduced the symptom of inflammation in the urate-induced synovitis. These results suggested that the ethanol extract of B. fungosa subsp. indica (Arn.) B. Hansen whole plant could be a promising remedy for the treatment of hyperuricemia and inflammation.