Effects of Alismatis Rhizoma and Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae Decoction on Hyperuricemia in Rats

Abstract

The combination of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) and Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG), as Chinese herb medicine, has been used for their uric acid-lowering effect. However, the effects and mechanism of the combination of the two medicines have not been fully reported. Therefore, to explore the effects of AR-RSG combination decoction on the treatment of chronic hyperuricemia (HUA) in rats as well as the underlying mechanisms, in this study, at the first stage, a long-term HUA rats model was established by gavage of oteracil potassium plus adenine; allopurinol was used as the positive control, and the uric acid-lowering effects of AR or RSG decoction alone with low and high dose were evaluated, respectively. Serum uric acid (UA) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) were determined mainly, and pathological analysis of the kidney and liver was carried out after sacrifice of the animals. And then, at the second stage, four dose groups of AR-RSG combination treatment were investigated in HUA rats. In addition to the indicators measured at the first stage, the expression of urate anion exchanger 1 (URAT1) in rat kidney was determined by immunohistochemistry. We discovered that the UA levels of the model group in both stages were significantly and steadily higher than those of control groups. AR and RSG alone or in combination possess ability to decrease serum UA level of HUA rats, with effects more marked in the combination groups. The uric acid-lowering mechanism of AR-RSG combination may be related to its inhibiting activity of XOD, improving kidney damage and downregulating the expression of URAT1 in kidney.

Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Effect of Smilacis Glabrae Rhixoma on Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder

“…In addition, if herbal medicines change in a similar shape, serious complications occur [ 21 ]. Side effects caused by SGR are not well known and are known to cause hepatotoxicity, a common side effect of herbal medicines [ 22 ]. In addition, the Chinese classic book shows that the LD50 in mice is 161 g/kg and is 100 g/kg in rats; 45 consecutive days of administration at these concentrations resulted in significant experimental animal death ( p < 0.01), and rats’ BUN exceeded the normal range [ 23 ].…”

Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Targets of Alisol Triterpenoids from Alismatis Rhizoma

“…Wuling San has demonstrated a renal protective effect by modulating renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic mice [ 43 ]. In addition, a combination of the two Chinese herb decoctions, AR and Smilacis glabrae rhizoma, has been shown to reduce hyperuricemia and kidney damage in a rat model [ 44 ]. The nephrotoxicity reported in some studies with AR extracts may be attributed to specific compounds, such as alisol C, 16, 23-oxido-alisol B, and alisol O, which are considered more toxic than Ali-A and Ali-B [ 45 ].…”

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Plays a Role in the Liver, Kidney, and Intestine to Ameliorate Hyperuricemia according to Experimental Studies

“…A study confirmed in hyperuricemic rats that Alismatis Rhizoma/ Alisma plantago-aquatica L. and RSG alone or in combination are capable of lowering serum uric acid levels, with a more marked effect in the combination groups. This mechanism might have something to do with its suppression on XOD activity, improvement of kidney damage, and downregulation of URAT1 expression in the kidney [ 50 ].…”