Abstract
BackgroundThe principal manifestation of hyperuricemia is gout. Many drugs are in use nowadays to treat gout, but they are linked with multiple side effects. The present study observed berberine (from Chinese folk medicine) on serum and urinary uric acid levels in rats with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia.Materials and methodsThirty-six adult healthy female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups of six rats each. To induce hyperuricemia, all the groups except Group A were given potassium oxonate (250 mg/kg) intraperitoneally on days 1, 3, and 7. Group A, the normal control group, was given normal saline for seven consecutive days intraperitoneally. Group C was administered allopurinol (5 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally, and Group D, E, and F were given berberine in doses of 0.75 mg/kg, 1.25 mg/kg, and 2.5 mg/kg body weight respectively intraperitoneally for seven consecutive days, one hour after the potassium oxonate injection. On zero, first, third, and seventh day of the experiment, blood and urine samples were taken to estimate the serum and urinary uric acid levels. On days zero and 7, serum uric acid was measured by cardiac puncture, while on days 1 and 3, it was measured by the tail prick method. The uric acid was measured by an enzymatic colorimetric method and creatinine by the Jaffe method. Fractional excretion of urate was also calculated.ResultsBerberine lowered serum uric acid levels in rats with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia with highly significant results (p-value <0.001) in all three dosages. Berberine increased the urinary uric acid level and the fractional excretion of urate in a time-dependent manner in all three dosages. This effect was maximally shown by low dose berberine with a highly significant result (p-value <0.001).ConclusionBerberine successfully decreased the serum uric acid level of hyperuricemic rats by increasing the urinary uric acid level and fractional excretion of urate.
Highlights
Berberine increased the urinary uric acid level and the fractional excretion of urate in a time-dependent manner in all three dosages. This effect was maximally shown by low dose berberine with a highly significant result (p-value
Hyperuricemia refers to uric acid levels abnormally high in the blood
Gout is the disorder of inflammatory arthritis, and it manifests as an acute attack initially but can present as chronic arthritis
Summary
Hyperuricemia refers to uric acid levels abnormally high in the blood. Serum uric acid’s normal upper level in men is 7 mg/dl and in women is 6 mg/dl [1]. A raised level of uric acid is the main key factor for gout development and has been linked to renal dysfunction, chronic nephropathy, and nephrolithiasis [2]. Gout is the disorder of inflammatory arthritis, and it manifests as an acute attack initially but can present as chronic arthritis. Monosodium urate (MSU) crystal formation occurs due to elevated serum uric acid levels above their saturation point [3]. The principal manifestation of hyperuricemia is gout. The present study observed berberine (from Chinese folk medicine) on serum and urinary uric acid levels in rats with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia
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