Title:The Anti-hyperuricemia and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Atractylodes
Macrocephala in Hyperuricemia and Gouty Arthritis Rat Models
Volume: 26
Issue: 5
Author(s): Xvwu Qian, Ying Jiang, Yiyuan Luo*Yuchen Jiang
Affiliation:
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, 315503, China
Keywords:
Atractylodes macrocephala, Hyperuricemia, Gouty arthritis, AMPK, SIRT1, NF-κB, Macrophage polarization.
Abstract:
Aims: Atractylodes macrocephala is a traditional Chinese medicine with a variety of
pharmacological activities. This study aimed to evaluate its anti-hyperuricemia and antiinflammatory
effects on gout, and to preliminarily explore its mechanism.
Methods: The hyperuricemia rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of oteracil potassium
and intragastric gavage of yeast powder solution. And the acute gouty arthritis (GA) model
was established by injecting monosodium urate (MSU) suspension. In the study of the antihyperuricemia
effect of Atractylodes macrocephala, the healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly
divided into the blank group, hyperuricemia group allopurinol group as well as low, moderate
and high dose groups of Atractylodes macrocephala decoction (N=8 rats in each group). Serum, liver
and kidney tissue samples were collected from each group. Serum uric acid (UA), adenosine deaminase
(ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels in each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA). Protein levels of ADA and XOD in liver tissues were detected by Western
blot, and renal histological changes were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson
staining. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Atractylodes macrocephala, the
healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the blank group, GA group, colchicine
group, high, moderate and low dose groups of Atractylodes macrocephala decoction (N=8 rats in each
group), and serum and synovial tissue of each group were collected. Then the level of serum interleukin
(IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was observed by ELISA, and the histological changes
of synovial tissue were observed by H&E staining. Besides, the expression of adenosine monophosphate-
activated protein kinase (AMPK) /silent information regulator (SIRT) 1/ nuclear factor kappa B
(NF-κB) protein in synovial tissue was observed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The
markers of M1 and M2 macrophages, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 (ARG1)
were observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence.
Results: Atractylodes macrocephala could reduce the production of UA by inhibiting the level of
ADA and XOD, and could improve renal injury and fibrosis. In addition, Atractylodes macrophages
could reduce the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, activate AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway, and inhibit
the activation of NF-κB and the polarization of macrophages to a pro-inflammatory phenotype.
Conclusion: Atractylodes macrocephala shows good anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects,
and its anti-inflammation pharmacological activity may be related to the inhibition of M1
macrophage polarization and NF-κB activation through activating AMPK/SIRT1.