Planta Med 2014; 80(15): 1259-1268
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1383048
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Total Saponins from Discorea nipponica Ameliorate Urate Excretion in Hyperuricemic Mice

Qi Zhou
1   Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
,
Dong-Hua Yu
1   Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
,
Chong Zhang
1   Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
,
Shu-Min Liu
2   Drug Safety Evaluation Center, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
,
Fang Lu
1   Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P. R. China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 July 2013
revised 23 June 2014

accepted 04 August 2014

Publication Date:
23 September 2014 (online)

Abstract

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae, from Discorea nipponica, is a widely used traditional Chinese herb. It is used to treat arthroncus, arthrodynia, and arthritis. Hyperuricemia is an important foundation of gouty arthritis. The current study was aimed at investigating whether the effects of total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae on hyperuricemia were due to renal organic ion transporters in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia mice. Hyperplasia of synovial cells prepared from Wistar rats was induced by IL-1β (1 × 104 µg/mL). MTT was used and to screen active components in the inhibition of hyperplasia by total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponica, individual pure compounds, and different combinations of these compounds. Sixty Kun Ming mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal, model, allopurinol (40 mg/kg), and three total saponins groups receiving dose (600 mg/kg), middle (300 mg/kg), and low doses (60 mg/kg). Hyperuricemic mice were induced with potassium oxonate (300 mg/kg) intragastrically. The total saponins were given six days and the positive drug allopurinol was given one day before inducing hyperuricemia. The serum and urine levels of uric acid and creatinine and the fractional excretion of uric acid were measured in normal and hyperuricemic mice treated with Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae and allopurinol. The mRNA and protein levels of the mouse urate transporter 1, glucose transporter 9, organic anion transporter 1, and organic anion transporter 3 were analyzed by real-time-PCR and Western blotting methods, respectively. Total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae could effectively reverse potassium oxonate-induced alterations in renal mouse urate transporter 1, glucose transporter 9, organic anion transporter 1, and organic anion transporter 3 mRNA and protein levels, resulting in enhancement of renal urate excretion in mice. These findings suggested that the total saponins from Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae had a uricosuric effect on the regulation of renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic animals.

 
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