Pharmacological basis for use of Pistacia integerrima leaves in hyperuricemia and gout

Ethnopharmacological significance: Pistacia integerrima Stew ex. Brandis is an important component of commonly dispensed traditional dosage forms. We wished to determine whether polyphenolic constituents of this plant could be useful in oxidative stress and have potential to counter hyperuricemia. Material and Methods: Radical scavenging activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity assay in vitro. Fructose (FIRS) induced hyperuricemic animal model was used to asses the serum uric acid (UA) lowering effect by plant products. Results: Ethyl acetate and n-BuOH fractions had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) was 6 and 7.6 mu g/ml respectively. It was less than quercetin (IC(50) 0.95 mu g/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC(50) 1.76 mu g/ml). Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was comparable between n-BuOH and EtOAc (IC(50) 19 and 20 mu g/ml) extracts but less than quercetin (IC(50) 0.65 mu g/ml) and allopurinol (IC(50) 0.10 mu g/ml). The antioxidant activity as well as the inhibitory activity towards the enzyme XO by quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-(6 ''-O-syringyl)-p-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-(4 ''-O-galloyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (8), rutin (4) together with aglycons, quercetin (1), kaempferol (2) and apigenin (3) was promising to continue in vivo hypouricemic studies. Ethyl acetate extract had dose dependent UA lowering effect in hyperuricemic mice. This effect was comparable with quercetin but less than allopurinol. Conclusions: These findings are encouraging to plan clinical studies in hyperuricemic patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.