ABSTRACT
Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide. Untreated gout causes severe pain and affects the qualityof life. Zingiber zerumbet is a well-known traditional plant with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Thisstudy was conducted to evaluate the effects of Z. zerumbet extract in gout-induced rats. In this study, 30 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups (six rats in each group): i) normal control group received normal salineand tween 80, ii) model group injected with monosodium urate (MSU) crystal solution, iii) positive control groupreceived 10 mg/kg celecoxib drug, iv) Z. zerumbet extract at 200 mg/kg, and v) Z. zerumbet extract at 400 mg/kg. Theextract was orally administered for 14 days. Rats of all groups (except the normal control group) were injected withMSU crystals (50 μl) into the ankle joint on day 11. The ankle joint was measured before injection 10, 24, 48, and 72hours after injection. On day 14, all rats were sacrificed. Blood and tissue samples were obtained for the analysis ofinflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. In this study, the ankle joint diameter rate was significantly reducedby Z. zerumbet at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05) compared to the model group. The extract prevented inflammationsignificantly (p < 0.05) compared to the model group in white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocytesedimentation rate tests. The two doses of Z. zerumbet also significantly (p < 0.05) promoted the activity of superoxidedismutase and attenuated 8-isoprostane. Thus, this outcome shows that the administration of Z. zerumbet rhizomeethyl acetate extract may be useful and easy to protect against gouty arthritis and the process is probably mediatedthrough its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.