Chinese Herbal Formulas Si-Wu-Tang and Er-Miao-San Synergistically Ameliorated Hyperuricemia and Renal Impairment in Rats Induced by Adenine and Potassium Oxonate

Abstract

Background/Aims: Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Here, we examined the combined protective effects of Chinese herbal formula Si-Wu-Tang and Er-Miao-San on hyperuricemia and renal impairment in rats. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into normal rats, hyperuricemic rats, and hyperuricemic rats orally administrated with benzbromarone (4.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1), Si-Wu-Tang (3.78 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and Si-Wu-Tang plus Er-Miao-San (6.48 g·kg^-1·d^-1) for 4 weeks. Hyperuricemic rats were orally gavaged with adenine (0.1 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and potassium oxonate (1.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1) daily for 4 weeks. Serum uric acid, creatinine, total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations, as well as urinary uric acid and microalbuminuria were measured weekly. Serum xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity and renal histopathology were also evaluated. The renal expression of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) was detected by western blot. Results: Si-Wu-Tang plus Er-Miao-San lowered serum uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride and BUN levels to a greater degree than did Si-Wu-Tang alone. Si-Wu-Tang plus Er-Miao-San ameliorated microalbuminuria and renal histopathology, as well as decreased serum TCH concentration and XOD activity in hyperuricemic rats. Combination of Si-Wu-Tang and Er-Miao-San also led to a greater increase in OAT1 and OAT3 expression than did Siwutang alone. Conclusion: Si-Wu-Tang and Er-Miao-San synergistically ameliorated hyperuricemia and renal impairment in rats through upregulation of OAT1 and OAT3.

Effect and Mechanism of ShiZhiFang on Uric Acid Metabolism in Hyperuricemic Rats

“…Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment for hyperuricemia has gradually attracted attention, and its efficacy has shown many advantages. Many studies have shown that the TCM formula, single drug, and active ingredients in single herb have obvious effect of reducing uric acid [ 13 – 17 ]. TCM formula of ShiZhiFang (SZF) is composed of plantago seeds, white mustard seeds, vaccaria seeds, and abutilon seeds, which has been used more than 20 years in Shuguang Hospital (Shanghai, China), and confirmed the clinical safety and efficacy of decreasing uric acid [ 18 ].…”

High Uric Acid Activates the ROS-AMPK Pathway, Impairs CD68 Expression and Inhibits OxLDL-Induced Foam-Cell Formation in a Human Monocytic Cell Line, THP-1

“…However, the precise mechanism is still unknown. In recent decades, increasing evidence has revealed that hyperuricemia is a major risk factor for gout but also other metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, atherosclerosis, chronic renal diseases, and peripheral vascular diseases [10][11][12][13]. A recent animal study indicated that elevated serum uric acid level exacerbates left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in mice fed a Western diet, which also leads to other pathophysiological processes, including myocardial hypertrophy, oxidative stress, interstitial fibrosis and macrophage proinflammatory polarization [14,15].…”

Er Miao San, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, attenuates complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats by regulating Th17/Treg cells

“…In traditional Chinese medicine, RA is called 'Bi Zheng', a syndrome characterized by pain; numbness of the limbs, joints and muscle; weakness of flexion and extension; and, movement disorder. Bi Zheng is caused by wind, cold, dampness, heat, amongst other processes (Guo et al 2015). The main objective of treatment is to relieve joint pain and prevent joint damage, in order to improve a patient's quality of life.…”

“…EMS has also been studied for its anti-hyperuricaemia effect as it reduces the level of serum uric acid and suppresses the activities of xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase (Kong et al 2004). A recent study demonstrated that EMS ameliorated renal impairment and hyperuricaemia in rats synergistically by upregulating organic anion transporters 1 (OAT1) and 3 (OAT3) (Guo et al 2015). Furthermore, EMS inhibited the inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS via the NK-jB pathway (Chen et al 2014).…”