Anti-hyperuricemic effect of Plantago depressa Willd extract in rats

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Plantago depressa Willd. extract (PDWE) on hyperuricemia in rats. Methods: The effect of PDWE was investigated in hyperuricemic rats induced by potassium oxonate. PDWE were fed to hyperuricemic rats daily at a dose of 160, 320 and 640 mg/kg for 10 days; allopurinol (5 mg/kg) was given as positive control. Serum and urine levels of uric acid and creatinine were determined by colorimetric method. Results: PDWE inhibited xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in serum (16.36 ± 1.16 U/L, p < 0.05) and liver (72.15 ± 5.26 U/g protein, p < 0.05), and also decreased levels of serum uric acid (2.43 ± 0.59 mg/L, p < 0.05), serum creatinine (0.42 ± 0.15 µmol/L) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, 9.58 ± 0.72 mmol/L, p < 0.05), but increased levels of urine uric acid (39.23 ± 8.22 mg/L, p < 0.05) and urine creatinine (32.24 ± 1.69 mmol/L, p < 0.05) in the renal tissue of hyperuricemic rats. Conclusion: PDWE exerts uricosuric action by regulating renal urate transporters to ameliorate renal dysfunction in hyperuricemic rats.