Antihyperuricemic Effects of <i>Operculina turpethum</i> Linn (Indian Jalap) Root Extract in Rodent Models

Background: Well-known traditional Indian medication Operculina turpethum is used to treat fever, bronchitis, ulcers, haemorrhoids, tumours, obesity, and jaundice. An excessively elevated level of uric acid in the blood is known as hyperuricaemia. The widespread presence of hyperuricemia has been steadily rising globally nowadays. Clinical treatments for hyperuricemia are benzbromarone and probenecid as uricosuric agents and Allopurinol (ALP) and febuxostat as Xanthine Oxidase (XOD) inhibitors. However, only a small number of medications are available due to the poor tolerance of these therapies and their potential for adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity, kidney disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hypersensitivity syndrome. Aim: Utilizing both in vivo and in vitro studies, we examined the Antihyperuricemic potential of Operculina turpethum Root Ethanol Extract (OTRE) as well as its underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: We investigated the amounts of uric acid in serum as well as the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in the liver tissue of a hyperuricemic rat model created by potassium oxonate (PO). In this in vitro investigation OTR show strong XOD inhibitory activity when compared with ALP. Results: In comparing the IC50 values of OTRE-200 was (94.32) and ALP was (1.52). The dose of OTRE-200mg/kg and Allopurinol-Treated (ALT) 10mg/kg groups had significantly lower levels of uric acid (UA) in their urine and blood than the PC group (p < 0.05) in PO-induced hyperuricemic rats. Urine UA levels were lower than serum levels in all OTE groups. In rats with PO-induced hyperuricemia, OTRE-200mg/kg reduced serum UA levels and elevated excretion of UA in the urine. Conclusion: This study showed that in rats with PO-induced hyperuricemia, OTRE increased UA excretion and decreased serum UA levels. OTRE prevents hyperuricemia by inhibiting the liver’s and serum’s XO activity in vivo and by having antioxidant activity in vitro. Major Findings: This study clarifies that OTRE shows positive benefits and could be beneficial in hyperuricemia and gout. Antihyperuricemic, Ethanolic Extract, Linn, Xanthine Oxidase