Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Pectin from <i>Premna ligustroides</i> Hemsl. Leaves in Gouty Rats Through NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibition

Gout is a rheumatic inflammatory disease resulting from abnormal uric acid metabolism. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of enzymatically hydrolyzed pectin from Premna ligustroides Hemsl. leaves (EHPPL) in gout-induced rats. Serum and organ function markers, along with ankle tissue hematoxylin-eosin staining and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) expression, were analyzed. In gouty rats, EHPPL significantly reduced uric acid (from 73.38 to 54.85 μmol/L) and urea nitrogen levels (from 11.97 to 4.02 mmol/L), normalized liver and kidney functions, and decreased key inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin (IL)-18, IL-1β, lipopolysaccharides, NLRP3, and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1. Additionally, EHPPL upregulated anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels. These effects were attributed to the inhibition of a toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/TLR4/myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88/nuclear factor-κB signaling, suggesting that EHPPL may serve as a potential dietary intervention for acute gouty arthritis.