SCREENING FOR ANTI-HYPERURICEMIA POTENTIAL OF SOME INDONESIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS THROUGH XANTHINE OXIDASE INHIBITION IN VITRO ASSAY

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of 12 plants commonly used as gout medicines by the Indonesian people.
 Methods: The measurement of xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitory activity was using UV spectrophotometry. The in vitro assessment of xanthine oxidase inhibition activity was tested on extracts from Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb. Bulbs, Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves, Alyxia reinwardtii Blume stem barks, Ruta angustifolia Pers aerial parts, Dioscorea hispida Dennst tubers, Plantago major L. leaves, Symphytum officinale L. roots, Euphorbia hirta L. aerial parts, Chromolaena odorata L. leaves, Solanum torvum Sw fruits, Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth. aerial parts and Strobilanthes crispa L. Blume leaves.
 Results: The results of this study showed that all tested plant extracts can inhibit xanthine oxidase activity with IC50 values varying from 27.80 µg/ml to 47.14 µg/ml. The IC50 value of allopurinol, used as positive control, was 1.24 µg/ml. Among all the tested plant extracts, Strobilanthes crispa L. Blume leaves extract has the best inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase enzyme with IC50 value of 27.80 µg/ml.
 Conclusion: Strobilanthes crispa L. Blume leaves extract has the best inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase, so It has the potential to be developed into herbal medicine to treat hyperuricemia. This study provides scientific support for the anti-hyperuricemia activity of these herbs, which are empirically used to treat gout.