Losartan: Benefits Beyond Hypertension

Losartan was the first angiotensin AT1 receptor blocker (ARB) approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hypertension. In addition to its established antihypertensive and end organ effects, several benefits of losartan beyond its antihypertensive effect have been demonstrated in clinical trials. Apart from its class effects of ARBs, losartan has pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that are unique to it. It has shown considerable benefits as uricosuric agent, in erectile dysfunction and in prevention of stroke in hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. This review presents the benefits of losartan beyond being a hypertensive agent and associated clinical outcomes.

Is vitamin C able to reduce hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia is defined as high levels of blood uric acid, the product of purine metabolism, which can form uric acid crystals and lead to become gout. Gout is a systemic disease that results from chronic elevation of uric acid levels above the threshold point and form the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in tissues, mainly in and around the joints forming tophi. The impact of gout and its associated conditions can cause deformity, morbidity and mortality. Vitamin C is shown to has beneficial effect in lowering serum uric acid level in hyperuricemia patients with unknown mechanism. But it is still debatable whether using or not using and the dose of vitamin C because giving large doses also had no effect on serum uric acid concentration, uric acid excretion and clearance by the kidney, and even can cause adverse effects.

In vivo anti-hyperuricemic activity of sesquiterpene lactones from Lychnophora species

ABSTRACT Hyperuricemia is the main cause of gout, an inflammation induced by uric acid deposition in joints. Drugs available present side effects, so there is a need for new treatment alternatives. Lychnophora species are used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, rheumatism and muscle pain. Goyazensolide (10 mg/kg), eremantholide C (25 mg/kg) and lychnopholide (25 mg/kg), sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Lychnophora species were previously studied and showed anti-hyperuricemic effects in mice. However, the mechanisms of this effect were not elucidated. The methodology of this study consisted in treatment of hyperuricemic-induced rats, and comparison between control groups, clinically used anti-hyperuricemic drugs and sesquiterpene lactones. Urine and blood were collected for uric acid quantification. Xanthine oxidase inhibition was measured in liver homogenates. Results showed that all evaluated sesquiterpene lactones presented anti-hyperuricemic activity at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg and can act through one or both mechanisms, depending on the dose administrated. Goyazensolide and lychnopholide at dose of 5 mg/kg showed important uricosuric effect. Goyazensolide and lychnopholide at dose of 10 mg/kg, and eremantholide C (5 and 10 mg/kg) presented notable inhibition of hepatic xanthine oxidase activity and uricosuric effect. Thus, these sesquiterpene lactones are promising hypouricemic agent to treat hyperuricemia and gout.

Advances of the uricosuric drugs / 中国药科大学学报

@#Promoting uric acid excretion is an important approach for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia. There are two main approaches included in the mechanism: one is inhibiting the function of renal tubular uric acid transporter to reduce the absorption of uric acid, and promoting excretion; the other is using uricase to catalyze the oxidation of uric acid to a more water-soluble allantoin that can also increase excretion. The mechanisms and progress of the uricosuric drugs are reviewed in this paper, providing reference for the further research and development.