Uric acid–reducing efficacy of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng in mice with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia

Abstract

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng is a type of Lamiaceae perennial herb that is widely used in folk treatments for respiratory and skin diseases. Notably, research on the hypouricemic effect of P. amboinicus is limited. This study investigated the uric acid–reducing efficacy of P. amboinicus in mice with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia by performing an in vitro xanthine-oxidase-inhibition-activity-guided test of P. amboinicus extract (PAE) and its fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of PAE exhibited optimal efficacy in terms of the phenolic content, DPPH scavenging activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibition. We further demonstrated the uric acid–reducing activity of EAF in a mouse model of potassium bromate–induced hyperuricemia. The results can serve as a useful preclinical reference for researching the gout prevention effects of functional foods. Keywords: Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng, hyperuricemia, uric acid–reducing activity