Alleviation of Gouty Arthritis Based on NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 Pathway by Saponins Extracted from Platycodon grandiflorus

Platycodon grandiflorus is a traditional food with excellent medicinal properties, such as promotion of lung health, expectorants, and cough suppression. Various studies have found that saponins, the main chemical component of Platycodon grandiflorus, are very effective against many inflammatory conditions, including mastitis, dermatitis, and laryngitis. However, the treatment of gouty arthritis with Platycodon grandiflorus saponins has not yet been reported and their mechanism of action have not been systematically investigated. In this study, a mouse model of gouty arthritis was established, and mice were treated with gavage for seven days in the blank, model, colchicine (1 mg/kg), and Platycodon grandiflorus saponin (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg) groups. MSU was sterilized and injected into the joints on the fifth day. The anti-inflammatory effect of PGS in the treatment of gouty arthritis was illustrated by measuring the degree of joint swelling, serum inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), peroxides (SOD, MDA, GSH-PX), joint histopathology, and characterization of related proteins. The results show that PGS was effective in reducing swelling and lowering IL-1β (181.49 vs. 161.01), IL-6 (273.10 vs. 241.69), TNG-α (637.89 vs. 455.80), and peroxide levels, presumably by a mechanism related to the reduction of proteins on the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 pathway.